John McEnroe marvels at ‘one of the great shots in years’ from Andrey Rublev

Tennis365
Andrey Rublev wins at Wimbledon
Andrey Rublev celebrates at Wimbledon

Seventh seed Andrey Rublev dived into the quarter-finals of Wimbledon with an extraordinary shot to bring up match point against Alexander Bublik.

Rublev was in the middle of the baseline when Bublik hit what he, and everyone else on Centre Court, thought was a clean winner down the line.

But the Russian dived forward, got a racket on the ball and somehow floated it over the net.

“That is one of the great shots we’ve seen here in years,” exclaimed John McEnroe on commentary as Bublik scratched his head in disbelief.

Rublev, who had been two sets ahead but was pegged back by his opponent from Kazakhstan, went on to seal a 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-7 (5), 6-4 win after one of the most entertaining matches of the Championships.

“It was the most lucky shot ever,” said the 25-year-old. “It was luck, nothing else. I don’t think I can do it one more time.”

Rublev added: “It was the most lucky shot ever. It was luck, nothing else. I don’t think I can do it one more time.

“I was just thinking it doesn’t matter, I lost the third set and fourth set. I said if I keep playing I would have one chance, and in the end I had it, played a really good volley and was able to break him.

“Every set I had chances, on match point he served full power. I kept thinking just keep playing, don’t start to explode before the match is over. In the end I was able to make it.”

Rublev, in the last eight at Wimbledon for the first time, was joined by fellow Russian Roman Safiullin, who upset Canada’s 26th seed Dennis Shapovalov 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3.

He will face Italian sixth seed Jannik Sinner, who beat Daniel Elahi Galan of Colombia in straight sets.

“It’s my first time in the main draw and the first time past the second round in a Grand Slam, and to reach the quarter-final is amazing,” said Safiullin.

“I’m not really believing it now, but I’m super happy that I could pass Denis and hopefully he can recover soon.

The world number 92  became the lowest ranked male quarter-finalist here since Nick Kyrgios in 2014.

“That’s definitely something special. I didn’t know that those guys were also [on that list]. I will do my best in the quarter-final to go as far as I can here,” added Safiullin.

READ MORE: ‘The top 10 right now is one of the weakest we’ve seen for years, Novak Djokovic aside’

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