As we near the end of the season, Rublev has already secured his second Masters 1000 title, with his first coming in 2023. He also made it to the final in Montreal just last week.
Rublev’s success in the Masters tournaments this year came after a period of poor form. In Madrid, he broke a four-match losing streak to claim a surprising title. In Montreal, another four-match losing streak was followed by a less than stellar start to the North American hard-court swing before reaching the final in Canada.
On his way to the final in Montreal, Rublev defeated the world No 1 Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals.
Now in Cincinnati for another Masters tournament, Rublev will once again face Sinner in the quarter-finals. If he wins, it will be his third 1000-level final of the season, a milestone he has yet to achieve in his career.
Reflecting on the match-up, Rublev commented, “It’s always super tough to play against him… I want to try to compete like I did in Montreal and we’ll see what happens.”
Quelling On-Court Demons Key to Rublev’s Recent Success
Rublev has shown greater composure on the court since Wimbledon, where he had an early exit. He has openly discussed his mental struggles and is working behind the scenes to address them. This calmer demeanor was evident in his successful run in Montreal, which surprised even him.
Rublev explained, “Overall, it was an amazing tournament for me… I think that final helped me a lot to be more calm in the important moments and trust myself more.”
Unique Cincinnati Court Conditions Proving a Challenge for Rublev
In preparation for his second match with Sinner, Rublev is adjusting to the fast conditions of Cincinnati’s Centre Court. Although the surface usually favors his aggressive game style, he is still adapting to the high-bouncing courts in Cincinnati.
Rublev expressed his challenges with the conditions, stating, “It’s like going to the casino… When you’re playing long rallies, you are thinking, you are defending, you are counter-attacking, those things make it more special and more fun to play.”
Despite the difficulties, Rublev sees this as an opportunity to showcase the skills he has been working on off the court.
After a season with ups and downs, Rublev has a chance to turn it around by defeating Sinner once again and reaching the semi-finals. It will be a tough challenge, but one that he is capable of overcoming if he can adapt to the unique conditions of the Cincinnati courts.
After all, facing off against the world No 1 is no easy task, but Rublev remains determined to give his best on the court.
