Andrey Rublev admits mixed feelings over Shanghai win in honest confession
Andrey Rublev and Grigor Dimitrov duelled it out in the Shanghai Masters semi-finals, but the Russian had mixed feelings about his win.
Rublev won the intense battle in straight sets after claiming the opener in a tiebreak, and the match ended 7-6(7), 6-3.
The opening set saw Rublev save a set point before claiming the frame in 76 minutes in a tiebreak.
Rublev came back from 0-2 down in the second set to gain a second Masters Championship match this season.
Dimitrov is a good friend of Rublev’s, and he says that beating a close friend is a bittersweet moment.
Knowing the crushing feeling of defeat well, Rublev felt for his good friend after the contest.
“It’s not easy when you win matches against friends, because you feel both sides,” Rublev, who is now into his fourth Masters 1000 final, said on court.
“You feel sad, but at the same time you want to win. It’s a mix of feelings.”
Despite pushing each other to the physical limit with relentless striking firmly off both wings from the baseline, a pivotal moment in the first-set tiebreak showcased Rublev and Dimitrov’s mutual respect.
Rublev was leading 3/2 when he fired an unreturned first serve, which Dimitrov believed had clipped the net, but the on-court system detected no let.
The Russian offered to replay the point in a moment of great sportsmanship, but Dimitrov insisted the call should stand.
“I feel sorry for the situation in the tiebreak at 3/2, because I wanted to replay the point,” said Rublev.
“Grigor behaved like a real champion and said,’ It’s not [your fault], so he gave me the point. Maybe because of this point I was able to win the tiebreak.”
From 0-2 in the second set, Rublev reeled off five straight games to take control as Dimitrov started to demonstrate signs of fatigue on court.
The World No 7 slammed 13 winners to Dimitrov’s one in the second set and completed the big win, having converted three of the four break points he generated in the match.
Rublev has won all ten sets he has played during his fantastic run at the Shanghai Masters.
The 25-year-old is 18-6 at Masters events this term, a record that includes his maiden title at the level in Monte-Carlo.
Currently fifth in the ATP Live Race To Turin, Rublev can also further strengthen his ATP Finals qualification hopes by lifting the trophy in Shanghai, although he cannot quite clinch his place just yet.
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