Andrey Rublev continued his impressive run tying Andy Murray for 2nd longest winning streak at ATP 500 events which after today's victory stands at 21.
The Russian stepped out onto the Dubai courts on Tuesday for his match against Emil Ruusuvuori and the Russian was impressive winning 6-4 6-4. The victory is a significant one as he tied Andy Murray for the 2nd longest winning streak at ATP 500 events. It was the 21st consectuive win for Rublev who only has one player ahead of him.
Roger Federer holds the record with 28 consecutive ATP 500 wins and Rublev is in striking distance of that record. Reflecting upon the feat he admitted there was no secret to it:
“There is no secret [to my streak]. It just happened… I was not focused on this. It just happened that I did good in these [ATP 500] weeks and I am really happy. We will see what is going to happen. Until [the media] started to write that I won 17 matches, 18 matches, 19 matches, I was not even realising that I did this. I am realizing it now… I am really happy that it happened to me. I am really happy that I achieved something that Andy did because it is not easy.”
It was a tightly contested match with Rublev pulling it out in two which made him happy. On the match he briefly said:
“It was definitely a tough match. It was my first match here and Emil played through qualifying and won a first-round [match]. He was used to the conditions already and it was not an easy match. It was close, especially in some moments in the second set. I am really with the way I played today. I played quite a good match and I am happy to be in the third round.”
In the 3rd round, he will play either Fritz or Basilasvhili and both of them will be keen on ending that impressive streak.