🎾🇷🇺 Andrey Rublev - l'un des joueurs de tennis russes interdits de tournoi à Wimbledon - a battu aujourd’hui le numéro un mondial Novak Djokovic en finale du Serbia Open 2022 à Belgrade 6-2, 6-7 (4-7), 6-0
"Novak Djokovic will keep playing until the end": Andrey Rublev gives one caveat to potential Rafael Nadal resurgence on tour return
ATPFriday, 22 December 2023 at 23:30
Andrey
Rublev commented on Rafael Nadal's comeback, expressing his opinion that Novak
Djokovic will continue playing to win Grand Slams if the Spaniard returns in
good form to compete for the major titles. As the return of the 22-times Grand
Slam champion Rafael Nadal to an official tournament draws nearer, doubts
persist about what the 37-year-old can achieve after a year away from the tour.
Rublev is
one of the few active players who have secured victories over both Nadal and
Djokovic, and this year, he even defeated 'Nole' in the final of the Belgrade
Open in front of the Serbian audience.
"Novak Djokovic will keep playing until the end"
With a
two-Grand Slam difference against Novak Djokovic, it seems challenging for
Nadal to equal or surpass the Serbian in the latter part of his career,
especially considering Djokovic's remarkable performance as the world No. 1 and
winner of three Grand Slams in 2023.
Rublev has
faced both former world No. 1 players multiple times. Against Nadal, he has a
head-to-head record of 1-2, while against Djokovic, it's 1-5. The Russian
recently opined that Nadal will continue seeking Grand Slam titles despite his
time away from the court, and this will serve as motivation for Djokovic to
continue winning trophies: "I’m not surprised because I think he and
Novak, those kind of players who are playing to leave a mark in the history of
tennis," Rublev said
"While Novak is still playing I think Rafa will try until the end to
play and try to win slams. And the same goes for Novak. If Rafael Nadal keeps
playing and winning when he comes back, Novak Djokovic will keep playing until
the end. They are playing for different things," he added.
Rublev's 2023
The
Russian, who ended the year as the world No. 5, matching his best year-end
ranking achieved in 2021, had a strong performance in Grand Slam tournaments.
He reached the quarterfinals in three of them during the year, with the
exception of the French Open. He concluded the year with a 56-2 record (68%)
and secured two titles: Belgrade and his first Masters 1000 in Monte-Carlo, in
addition to reaching the final of the Shanghai Masters.
At 25 years
old, Rublev's goal for 2024 is to surpass his Grand Slam results, as he has
reached the quarterfinals nine times (including five of his last six Slam
appearances) but has yet to reach a semifinal.
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