Russia's Andrey Rublev poses with the ball boys after winning the Qatar ExxonMobil Open final. Picture: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula
Qatar Open champion Andrey Rublev is thrilled to launch the new tennis season with a title win but the rising Russian star won’t get ahead of himself as he prepares for the Australian Open - the year’s first Grand Slam - later this week.
On a chilly Saturday evening, Rublev erased the memory of losing the 2018 final to Gael Monfils with a clinical performance against French qualifier Corinten Moutet in straight sets at a packed Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.
The second seed arrived in Doha after he was tipped earlier in the week by tennis icon Roger Federer to dominate the men’s circuit in 2020.
Just seven days into the new season and Rublev - who handed Federer his quickest defeat in the last 16 years in 2019 - issued a firm warning to rivals with his commanding title win that reflected an improving game under pressure.
“I don’t know what to say (about expectations at the Australian Open). I don’t expect nothing. I’m not waiting for anything. I just want to go there. If I lose there first round and I did my best, I will be happy,” Rublev said as he delivered a measured response, much like as he always does.
“So in the end, it’s not about me. If I do my best there in every match and play every match well. We’ll see how far I can go. First round is first round; second, third ... we’ll see. But for sure the main goal is to fight well and to fight for every point,”
Rublev, 22, added: “Tomorrow I have to fly for my next tournament and I’ll have to be ready to compete again.”
The tall Russian, who bagged his third winner’s trophy from five finals on the ATP Tour in Doha, said tackling Moutet’s late surge in the title clash on Saturday was key to his success.
“I felt that the match was really close. What happened (late) in the second set could have happened in the first set also. I was feeling it since the beginning. I was trying to win every game, but the end was tough,” Rublev recalled.
“And in the end, the moment when I was little bit more tight, he played really well and he broke me back and he got back in the game. I showed little bit emotions (smiling). I could behave better (on court). I started to show little emotions. But in the end, I always keep fighting, keep fighting. In the end, I could finish the match and I’m really happy about it,” he added.
Rublev praised what most thought was an erratic performance from 20-year-old Moutet.
“As I said already on the court, I know him. I think the first time I saw him was during Under-16 Junior Davis Cup. I know that he is so talented, that he has amazing touch,” Rublev said.
“Now we can see that he has big potential, that he’s talented. He’s fast. Him feeling the ball (is) amazing (to watch). He changes the rhythm so well. I think he will have a great future. I mean, of course there’s so many things that will change. If he will focus better, if he works hard, he will have a great future,” Rublev said of Moutet.
Rublev said playing and dominating in Doha - where he has posted his 9th win in 11 matches over three years - had done a world of good for him.
“It’s my first experience at the start of a season with the trophy and it’s an amazing feeling,” Rublev said.
“I don’t know what to say because like I said already many times, I always enjoy myself here. I always enjoy to be here, to play here, to practice here. The conditions are always nice,” he added.
“I was waiting for the time to come back to start the season here because the organisation is always so good. They (the organisers) are always doing everything for the players. So it’s always amazing preparing for the Australian Open here,” the Russian added.
“And now after I have won the title, so it’s double amazing. For the moment, I’m really happy,” Rublev said.
When asked about losing the 2018 final to Monfils, another French player, Rublev said: “To be honest, I was not really thinking before the match about it (the 2018 final). I know that I lost two years ago, and I was thinking, Okay, we’ll see. I will do my best. If my opponent is better today, the only thing I can do is accept. If I will be better, then it’s amazing. So in the end, I win and it’s amazing (laughing). That’s all I can say.”
