"I guess I'm proving my ranking at the moment": Slumped Rublev unsure if he's getting closer to top players in Grand Slams

Russia’s tennis star Andrey Rublev believes that his recent performances are reflective of his ATP rankings.

The 25-year-old, who is the world number eight, was knocked out of the US Open 2023 after losing to fellow countryman Daniil Medvedev in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday.

Talking to the media after the match, Rublev stated that his recent performances are a true reflection of his rankings and that he would like to finish the season strongly.

“I don’t know, to be honest,” he said. “I think my ranking is eight or seven. I did basically the result of my ranking. I was in the best eight players three times this year. I guess I’m proving my ranking for the moment. We’ll see in the last part of the season how it’s going to be.”

The recent defeat will be a heartbreaking one for Rublev as it was his ninth loss in the quarterfinal of a Grand Slam.

This year, the Moscow-born played in the last eight of three out of the four major tournaments and on each occasion, he ended on the losing side.

In the Australian Open, Rublev suffered a defeat to the current world number two Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinal in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.

Later in Wimbledon, he came second best, once again against Djokovic in the last-eight clash with a score of 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3.