Andrey Rublev gunning for a fifth straight ATP 500 title, but concedes Dubai ‘doesn’t suit my game style’

He will be hoping to lift a fifth consecutive ATP 500 trophy at the end of the Dubai Tennis Championships, but Andrey Rublev admits he will need to alter his game this week if he is to taste success.
The Russian is the form player in ATP 500 events as he won the Rotterdam Open a fortnight ago while he also picked up titles at the Vienna Open, St Petersburg Open and Hamburg Open at the backend of 2020.
Seeded second in Dubai, Rublev concedes he faces “a great challenge” at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre due to the faster courts.
“It’s always tough conditions to play here as the balls fly and it doesn’t suit my game style,” he told ATP Tour. “It will be a great challenge for me, as I will need to find other ways to play matches.”
Grand Slam and Masters 1000 breakthrough needed for Andrey Rublev after ATP 500 dominance
The 23-year-old is coming off his most successful season on the ATP Tour as he won five titles last year and he has carried that form over to 2021 as he is 13-2, although his last match was a semi-final defeat at the Qatar Open last week.
Rublev, though, is taking everything in his stride.
“It’s tough to know what you need to do to produce good results,” the world No 8 said. “I’ve focused on myself to accept the things that I can’t change and do the best I can [each] today. This is the direction I am moving in and what has helped me. It also helped me to be better mentally.
“I feel like I am doing some things better than last year… I’ve always worked hard, it’s been a long journey of improvement. No one has ever told me to work or [needed] to motivate me. I was always doing things at 100 per cent and enjoying it. I then had some injuries [lower back stress fracture and right wrist] and stressful problems off the courts.”
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
Tennis News
WATCH: Andy Murray shares hilarious mock lipreading video from Thanasi Kokkinakis clash
Andy Murray saw the funny side of a TikTok video showing mock lipreading captions of footage from his Australian Open second round win.
-
Australian Open
Novak Djokovic still motivated by Rafael Nadal rivalry
That Grand Slam record is on Novak Djokovic’s mind for sure.
-
News
Elena Rybakina clinches straight sets semi-final win over Victoria Azarenka
The Wimbledon champion claimed a 7-6 (4) 6-3 victory on Rod Laver Arena.
-
Tennis News
Boris Becker says Novak Djokovic ‘thrives’ on noisy crowds
Djokovic eased past Andrey Rublev in straight sets in the quarter-finals, but the match was disrupted by a heckler.
-
Australian Open
Novak Djokovic in new media storm as his father is filmed posing with Russian flag wavers
Video showed Djokovic’s father Srdjan posing with a man holding the Russian flag with the face of Vladimir Putin printed on it.
-
Live Tennis
2023 Australian Open: Follow day 11 with T365’s live scores and results centre…
This way for the action from the 2023 Australian Open.
-
Australian Open
John McEnroe questions Iga Swiatek’s emotional state after Australian Open exit
John McEnroe suggested world No 1 Iga Swiatek needs to rediscover a stable mindset to get back to winning ways.
-
Australian Open
Russian fans display pro-war symbols and banned flags at Australian Open
Russian fans have been questioned by police over flags and symbols displayed at the Australian Open.
-
Australian Open
John McEnroe on whether Novak Djokovic gets the respect he is due
John McEnroe has given his verdict on the lack of respect being shown to Novak Djokovic.
-
News
Novak Djokovic fuelled by 2022 tribulation as title march continues
The Serbian brushed aside Andrey Rublev to set up a clash with Tommy Paul.