Australian Open : Fresh Rublev battles past Faria to reach third round
Andrey Rublev secured his place in the Australian Open round of 32 on Wednesday, overcoming a spirited challenge from Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5. Despite a mid-match surge from the world No. 151, the 13th-seeded Rublev relied on his signature baseline power to close out the contest in four sets, maintaining his … Continued
Andrey Rublev, 2025 | © Imago / PsNewz
Andrey Rublev secured his place in the Australian Open round of 32 on Wednesday, overcoming a spirited challenge from Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5. Despite a mid-match surge from the world No. 151, the 13th-seeded Rublev relied on his signature baseline power to close out the contest in four sets, maintaining his perfect record of reaching the third round in Melbourne for the seventh time in his career.
The victory marks a strong start to the season for Rublev, who now holds a 4-1 record in 2026. After a comprehensive opening-round win, the world No. 15 appeared to be cruising toward another straight-sets victory before Faria,riding the momentum of his maiden Grand Slam main draw appearance, snatched the third set. However, Rublev’s experience proved decisive in the fourth; he stabilized his serve and found the critical break at 6-5 to avoid a dangerous fifth-set tiebreak.
Rublev : “Coffee, sleep, coffee, sleep”
Reflecting on his efficient start to the year, Rublev appeared relaxed during his post-match obligations. When asked how he planned to spend his scheduled day off before the third round, his answer was characteristically blunt and focused on recovery: “Coffee, sleep, coffee, sleep, practice annnd sleep. That’s it.”
The “Quarter-man” will now face Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo in what promises to be one of the most physical encounters of the third round. Rublev leads their professional head-to-head, but after an early exit in Melbourne last year, he remains wary of the physical toll of the tournament’s first week. “I’m feeling pretty fresh,” he noted, “but the matches here are never easy.”
