“I wasn’t ready to play”: Rublev explains why he skipped the Olympic Games
ATPFriday, 09 August 2024 at 21:30
Andrey Rublev explained his reasons for skipping the Olympic Games
despite being a gold medalist. The 27-year-old Russian experienced a dip in
form in the middle of the season after the clay swing, suffering four
consecutive first-round losses.
Now, as the US Open Series begins, Rublev is starting to turn his season
around in North America. He reached the quarterfinals at the DC Open last week
and recently secured his first win at the Masters 1000 Montreal Open by
defeating Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Rublev reveals his decision to skip Paris 2024
In May, Rublev claimed his second Masters 1000 title at the Madrid Open
and seemed to be one of the favorites for the French Open, though he lost to
Matteo Arnaldi. The mid-season slump took him away from his usual consistency
in getting deep into tournaments.
For the past four years, he had hardly moved from the top 10, spending
much of that time even in the top 5, though the losing streak brought him close
to a significant drop: "If Madrid didn't exist, I would be outside the top
15,” he said.
When the time came to decide whether to travel to Paris 2024, Rublev had
to make a tough decision with his team: “I didn’t play the Olympic Games
because we felt that mentally I wasn’t ready to play,” said the Tokyo 2020
mixed doubles gold medalist to Tennis Channel.
Andrey Rublev won his first Masters 1000 title at 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters
“Because of my recent results and the way I was behaving. So we decided,
okay, let’s give priority to my career, singles, we take time off to try and
recover me a bit mentally. Then we play some ATP 250s, and then we go earlier
to America to prepare to be much more ready for Montreal. And then I won the
match, so that’s the most important thing.”
It wasn’t an easy debut against Etcheverry in Montreal. The Russian
recovered from a break down to win the match 7-6(3), 6-2, joking that he should
have gone to the Olympics if he had lost: “In one moment in my head, when I was
losing, I was thinking, I came earlier here to be more prepared because other
players are coming from the Olympics.”
“In the end, it doesn’t change anything because they are coming from the
Olympics and they are winning, and I am losing. I should have gone to play in
the Olympics. That was, in one moment, in my head,” Rublev joked.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
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.
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