Top seed Rublev crushes Korda for Gijon title, boosts ATP Finals hopes

The Russian is now sixth in the ATP Race, with three more tournament weeks to go before next month’s ATP Finals in Turin

Rublev and Korda Gijon Tennis TV

Top seed Andrey Rublev boosted his hopes of earning a place at the season-ending ATP Finals for a third year in a row as he beat American Seb Korda 6-2, 6-3 on Sunday to win the inaugural Gijon Open trophy at the Palacio de Deportes.

The Russian, ranked No 9, was in command throughout, hitting 29 winners and making just four unforced errors, as he picked up his fourth title of 2022 and his 12th career ATP title.

“I am really happy and really grateful,” Rublev said, quoted by the ATP Tour’s website. “To win a title is always a special feeling because all the players are working to win a title and play the best tournaments. To win one more title here in my career is really important for me. All the weeks are important for me because I am fighting for the Finals.”

The victory cemented Rublev’s position in sixth in the ATP Race, with just three more weeks of qualifying tournaments before the eight-man field is confirmed for Turin.

It is the fourth title of 2022 for Rublev, who won in Marseille, Dubai and Belgrade earlier in the year. He’s now won 47 matches on Tour this season.

Rublev’s run to the title included wins over Belarusian Ilya Ivashka (6-3, 5-7, 6-4), American Tommy Paul, the No 5 seed (7-5, 6-3) and Austrian Dominic Thiem (6-4, 6-4).

Earlier in the tournament, Korda, ranked No 47, defeated Spaniard Jaume Munar (6-4, 6-1), Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, the No 3 seed (5-7, 6-4, 6-4), wildcard Andy Murray (6-4, 1-6, 6-1) and Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech (7-6 (2), 6-3).

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