Andy
Roddick shared his thoughts on Andrey Rublev's recent outburst at the Paris
Masters, where the Russian vented his frustration while playing against World
No. 29 Francisco Cerúndolo. Rublev lost a close match, 6-7(6), 6-7(5), exiting
the tournament in his opening round.
During the
first set, after losing a point in the tie-break, the 27-year-old tennis player
repeatedly hit himself on the knee with his racket, striking it seven times,
which caused a cut on his leg and left him bleeding. His frustration didn’t end
there, as he later threw a bottle forcefully onto the ground during a
changeover.
"Rublev is someone that everyone likes"
Former
World No. 1 Andy Roddick discussed Rublev’s on-court outbursts and the frequent
warnings he has received. “Can we have, like, ‘We’re not hitting ourselves’ as
an option? Because, obviously, if you could break your racket on the deck, you
would do that, but I just feel like breaking a racket on a court is a way
lesser of evil than, like, self-harm out there, right?” mentioned the American
on his podcast Served with Roddick.
“At what
point do you have to give them warnings? Do you have to penalize them for this?
Because this behavior, you know, it’s being seen by younger players, it’s being
seen by... and I know not everybody wants to be a sports role model or should
be required to be, but at some point it is a bit ridiculous, right?”
Roddick
defended that Rublev’s on-court attitude is a way of coping with frustration
during matches, emphasizing that he doesn’t behave the same way off-court: “We
can’t say it enough, that Rublev is someone that everyone likes, respects on
Tour. It’s not like he has this behavior in the locker room; he’s beloved on
Tour. But also, the thing that’s a little concerning is the frequency with
which we see it,” Roddick commented.
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.