A sharp decline from such consistency: Andrey Rublev outside top 10 in rankings for first time since 2019 after imperfect campaign

A disappointing 2025 campaign will see Andrey Rublev fail to finish the year outside of the top 10 for the first time since 2019. This has been confirmed after he was narrowly defeated by Ben Shelton 7-6(6), 6-3 in the round-of-16 stage at the Paris Masters.

The American claimed the first set tiebreak after a whole set with no breaks, before claiming a brace of breaks in the second set to fend off the Russian and condemn more misery on him. Along with that, it prevents Rublev the opportunity to claw away some ground to the players above him. He sits 16th in the ATP live rankings, just under 800 points behind Casper Ruud who currently occupies 10th.

Since 2020, Rublev has either finished 5th (2021, 2023) or eighth (2020, 2022, 2024). This will not be the case in 2025, with his remarkable consistency being halted as he slowly slides down the rankings. Without a quarter-final appearance at a Grand Slam for the first time since 2019 or a Masters 1000 semi-final since 2020, the Russian has some work to do to get back on track.

While there have been lows this season, there has also been some positive moments for the 28-year-old. However, it did not come in the maiden Grand Slam of the year. He was defeated by young star Joao Fonseca in straight sets, kicking off his campaign to possibly the worst start while ending a run of two quarter-finals in Melbourne.

He was the number on seed at the Open Occitanie, but he could not produce the goods on court, succumbing to defeat in the semi-finals against qualifier Aleksandar Kovacevic. He was pegged back in the last-eight stage in Rotterdam before finally converting the goods on court to win the Qatar Open. He defeated top talents such as Alex de Minaur, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jack Draper in the final to clinch his first title since the Madrid Open in 2024.

This triumph would soon be swept under the carpet, with three opening-round defeats coming in consecutive tournaments in Dubai, Indian Wells and Miami. His abysmal form prolonged into the clay swing, losing in the premature stages in Monte-Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid, where he lost a huge chunk of ranking points. This saw him slide even further ahead of an opening-round defeat in Rome, but he did manage to claim some back in his second final appearance in 2025. It would not be a happy ending, with Flavio Cobolli getting the better of him in Hamburg. Despite his prior form on clay, he had only made two Roland Garros quarter-final back in 2020 and 2022. He was unable to add or even improve on these results after he wandered into the clutches of Jannik Sinner, who comfortably breezed past him.

His short grass season was halted after he once again walked into one of the big two players on the ATP circuit. This time it was Carlos Alcaraz, who sent him home after a fourth-round appearance at Wimbledon. More frustration emerged in Mexico after Rublev failed to defeat Kovacevic again in a 250 semi-final. His luck would turn for the better after an improved North American hardcourt swing saw him reach the quarter-finals in the Canadian and Cincinnati Open. This form could not transfer itself to Flushing Meadows, where Rublev was overcome by Auger-Aliassime in straight sets. This confirmed his worst performance at all major tournaments in a calendar year since 2019.

He failed to pick up a win in the Asian swing before being defeated by Cameron Norrie in the first match in Vienna. The Paris Masters was his last chance of a big result, but a similar story unfolded for the former semi-finalist. With his name not on the list for the final two 250 events of 2025 in Metz or Athens, this could be the end of a dismal campaign for Rublev. He will now set his sights on a much-improved 2026, with ground to make on his rivals.