Andriej Rubliow

[Damian]

Rublev Learns Adelaide 2 Path

Spoiler:

Three Australian players receive wild cards
Andrey Rublev will aim to bounce back from a disappointing first-round exit at the Adelaide International 1 when he headlines the draw at the Adelaide International 2 this week. The World No. 8, who is the top seed at the ATP 250 event, will face an Australian wild card in his opening match, with the winner of Thanasi Kokkinakis and Alexei Popyrin taking on the 12-time tour-level titlist.

The 25-year-old is seeded to meet sixth seed Miomir Kecmanovic in the quarter-finals. The Serbian begins against the returning Kyle Edmund. Rublev is also joined in the top half by fourth seed Roberto Bautista Agut, with the Spaniard opening against Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi or American Maxime Cressy.

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At the bottom of the draw, second seed Pablo Carreno Busta opens against a qualifier, with fifth seed Daniel Evans a potential quarter-final opponent. The Briton faces American Mackenzie McDonald in the first round and could meet Sebastian Korda in the second round. The 22-year-old Korda, who plays Yoshihito Nishioka in the semi-finals in Adelaide Saturday, opens against Emil Ruusuvuori.

Third seed Karen Khachanov will play Arthur Rinderknech or Marc-Andrea Huesler, while #NextGenATP Briton Jack Draper starts against Lorenzo Sonego. The Next Gen ATP Finals champion Brandon Nakashima will compete for the first time since he lifted the trophy in Milan when he plays seventh-seeded Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Australian Jason Kubler earned two wins at the United Cup in Sydney. The 29-year-old will look to continue his impressive start to the season against a qualifier.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/rublev- ... w-saturday

[Damian]

Rublev Learns Adelaide 2 Path

Spoiler:

Three Australian players receive wild cards
Andrey Rublev will aim to bounce back from a disappointing first-round exit at the Adelaide International 1 when he headlines the draw at the Adelaide International 2 this week. The World No. 8, who is the top seed at the ATP 250 event, will face an Australian wild card in his opening match, with the winner of Thanasi Kokkinakis and Alexei Popyrin taking on the 12-time tour-level titlist.

The 25-year-old is seeded to meet sixth seed Miomir Kecmanovic in the quarter-finals. The Serbian begins against the returning Kyle Edmund. Rublev is also joined in the top half by fourth seed Roberto Bautista Agut, with the Spaniard opening against Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi or American Maxime Cressy.

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At the bottom of the draw, second seed Pablo Carreno Busta opens against a qualifier, with fifth seed Daniel Evans a potential quarter-final opponent. The Briton faces American Mackenzie McDonald in the first round and could meet Sebastian Korda in the second round. The 22-year-old Korda, who plays Yoshihito Nishioka in the semi-finals in Adelaide Saturday, opens against Emil Ruusuvuori.

Third seed Karen Khachanov will play Arthur Rinderknech or Marc-Andrea Huesler, while #NextGenATP Briton Jack Draper starts against Lorenzo Sonego. The Next Gen ATP Finals champion Brandon Nakashima will compete for the first time since he lifted the trophy in Milan when he plays seventh-seeded Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Australian Jason Kubler earned two wins at the United Cup in Sydney. The 29-year-old will look to continue his impressive start to the season against a qualifier.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/rublev- ... w-saturday

[Damian]

1) Can Rublev Roar Back?: After a disappointing first-round exit at the hands of Roberto Bautista Agut last week in Adelaide, Rublev returns with a fresh slate as he looks to get his 2023 season up and running. Following an opening-round bye, the top seed and 2022 Nitto ATP Finals semi-finalist will meet an Australian wild card: either defending champion and Adelaide native Kokkinakis or Alexei Popyrin.

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[Damian]

[Damian]

[Kamileki]

[Kamileki]

[Nando]

[Damian]

7) Top 10 Threats: Andrey Rublev, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Hubert Hurkacz will all aim to win their maiden Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open this week. The fifth seed Rublev reached the quarter-finals in 2021 but has a tough opening assignment against 2020 finalist Dominic Thiem. The sixth seed Auger-Aliassime enjoyed a career-best season last year, winning four tour-level trophies. He will aim to make a fast start in 2023 when he plays countryman Vasek Pospisil.

The 10th seed Hurkacz, who earned two wins at the United Cup for Team Poland, has never been beyond the second round in four previous appearances in Melbourne. The 25-year-old starts against Pedro Martinez.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/austral ... ing-report

[Damian]

[Damian]

Rublev Handles Thiem In Melbourne Opener

Spoiler:

Andrey Rublev won his fifth straight ATP Head2Head meeting with Dominic Thiem as he expertly navigated a challenging opening-round draw on Tuesday at the Australian Open. In a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win, the fifth seed followed a familiar game plan as he controlled the match with his booming forehand and serve.

Thiem competed well in his first Australian Open since 2021, but was undone by late breaks in each of the first two sets. Rublev, who saved the only two break points he faced in the second set, left no doubt in the final set, which he dominated from the start.

"When you see that you have to play against Dominic, it's never easy," Rublev said of the marquee matchup. "Plus we are really good friends. I know that he's going through a not easy time, so I just want to wish him all the best, to wish him to come back on the same level that he belongs as fast as possible."

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With brutally hot conditions in John Cain Arena, Rublev was especially pleased to finish the match in an efficient two hours, 10 minutes.

"It's super hot today so I'm really happy that I was able to win in straight sets to save some energy for the next match," he said after firing 33 winners in the victory.


Rublev awaits either Emil Ruusuvuori or Australian qualfiier Max Purcell in the second round. A six-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist, Rublev is bidding to advance beyond that stage for the first time in his 17th major.

Thiem, who reached the Australian Open final in 2020, entered this year's event as a wild card as he continues his comeback from wrist surgery in 2021. He is now on a seven-match losing streak against Top 10 players, with his most recent such win coming at the 2020 Nitto ATP Finals.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/rublev- ... en-2023-r1

[Damian]

[Lucas]

[Lucas]

[Lucas]

[Lucas]

[Damian]

[Lucas]

[Damian]

[Damian]

Rublev Powers Through Resistance Into Australian Open Third Round

Spoiler:

Fifth seed to meeet Evans next
Andrey Rublev responded brilliantly after dropping his first set of the 2023 Australian Open to defeat Emil Ruusuvuori on Thursday in the second round. The fifth seed powered through the finish line in a 6-2, 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-3 win to match his result from one year ago in Melbourne.

A six-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist, including at the year's first major in 2021, Rublev remains on course to reach that stage this fortnight. He next faces 25th seed Daniel Evans, with ninth seed Holger Rune a potential fourth-round opponent. His draw has been difficult from the start, with a win against Dominic Thiem to open his campaign.

"First round was super hot, now it's super windy," the 25-year-old said in an on-court interview. "It's tough in these conditions against players like Emil who hit the ball really hard, flat... I'm happy that I was able to show a great level, no matter the conditions."

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Following a disappointing third-set tie-break, Rublev quickly made amends by racing to a 3-0 lead in the fourth. Aided by a loose service game from Ruusuvuori, he re-established his dominance on Kia Arena, finishing the match with 50 winners and 16 aces.

"I started really well. I was dominating, I was hitting the ball really well," he assessed. "That allowed me to win two sets straightaway. And then I lost focus a bit and Emil, opposite, he started to play a bit better, more consistent, harder.

"In the fourth set I was able to play good tennis again and I was able to win."



Through to the Melbourne third round for a fifth time in seven appearances, Rublev is prepated for a battle of wits against Evans, who he called "one of the smartest players on Tour". The pair have split six previous ATP Head2Head matchups, with Evans winning their latest meeting last year in Montreal.

Evans booked his place in the third round with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-1 win against France's Jeremy Chardy. The Briton is relishing the seventh installment of their rivalry.

"I've never played him in a Grand Slam, so it's slightly different," he said. "I look forward to it. [These are] the matches I want to play in. I came here wanting to get into the third round, where my seeding should get me. Then, it's a match I can win, but it's also a very tough match... It's going to be good fun.

"Obviously my plan will be to frustrate him with my game, and I have done that pretty well the last few times. We'll see how he responds. I'm sure he'll have a different plan."

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