‘Grateful’ and ‘Upgraded’ Rublev says ‘to come back and to win a match like this is a fairytale’

The Russian was a point away from going down 5-1 in the final set before winning six of the last seven games

Andrey Rublev, Monte-Carlo 2023 champion (Chryslène Caillaud / Panoramic)

April 16, 2023

Tennis pundits and fans have been waiting for Andrey Rublev to win a big title. On Sunday, the Russian accomplished just that by winning the Monte-Carlo Masters in dramatic fashion. That he did it by holding his nerve and showing champion-like ability by coming from the brink of defeat against Holger Rune made the victory all the more special, with Rublev describing the triumph as a ‘fairy tale’.

“Great feeling. Like I was saying after struggling so much, so many times, losing in the finals, semi-finals, losing even earlier, struggled so much to win first 1000 Masters and finally I did it,” Rublev said after his win. “I did it in Monaco with the really historic tournament. It’s a pleasure to be part of it. To win match like this, losing 4-1, Love-30, breakpoint for 5-1, and to be able to come back and to win a match is like a fairytale today.”

I’m just grateful, and I want to thank every single person
Andrey Rublev

The Russian, who thanked the crowd during the presentation ceremony for supporting him despite the country he hails from, told the press that he was indeed very grateful for the support of the fans across the world.

“In my life I was doing many mistakes, I was hurting many people, my family, the loved ones. So I’m not good or I’m not bad, I guess, but to have this support, it means that for sure I can be a better person and I can work on it and I can improve and to try to share it with others,” the 13-time ATP Tour winner said. “To have this support, I feel really, really grateful, because, I don’t know, it’s not easy to get support in general. To get a good support is really tough. I’m really grateful for this, that I’m having this support and I had this support this week, previous weeks, and I start to feel it more and more. I’m just grateful, and I want to thank every single person.”

I have a new fitness coach, new physio, new agent. So completely upgrade – Rublev

Rublev also thanked out his new team, which now includes Alberto Martin, who has been working with him on his mental side of things, saying that he feels he has got a complete ‘upgrade’.

“Alberto, first of all, he’s a very humble and really nice guy. They are good friends with Fernando, so it’s really, really nice to work with them, because both of them are super humble. Here (with the team) is the same, and I have this connection. I’m really grateful for it, and they see the things similar. That’s also really good. Because Berto, he had diploma, sports psychologist, so he can explain some things in the more easier way in some stress moments, and it’s helping also a lot. Then I have a new fitness coach, new physio, new agent. So completely upgrade. Only Fernando (Vincente) is still the main one who was since the beginning.”

Having now captured his first ATP Masters Series title is not making Rublev make bold claims about taking the next step and winning Grand Slams. Instead, the Russian says he wants to keep improving in the right direction and let the results take care of themselves.

“The goal is still the same. Like I was saying before Monte-Carlo, I was saying that I feel that I’m doing really good things outside the court on practices. I like how I’m working now with my new team fitness-wise, treatment-wise, tennis-wise, mental-wise. I feel that this is the right way,” Rublev added. “I feel that I can improve a lot. I feel that on practices I’m doing this. The thing is like I don’t know when and where it will appear also on the tournaments. In the end, I win this title. The goal is still the same: to work hard in this right direction that I’m doing now and to try to improve as much as I can while I have this time.”