Andrey Rublev believes his chances of defending the Madrid Open “are very slim”
Andrey Rublev defied the odds at the 2024 Madrid Open, capturing his second ATP Masters 1000 title despite entering on a four-match losing streak.
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Andrey Rublev (Image via Instagram)
Andrey Rublev made history at the 2024 Madrid Open by winning his second career ATP Masters 1000 title. The Russian was the least favorite heading into the tournament, having lost four consecutive matches before the event. This year’s edition of the Madrid Masters is set to begin on Monday (April 21), but Rublev doesn’t fancy his chance of defending the title.
Rublev shut up his critics at the Madrid Open last year when he first defeated home favorite Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals en route to the final. He then overcame Felix Auger-Aliassime in the final 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 to lift his maiden Madrid Open title despite struggling with a fever during the tournament.
Ahead of the 2025 Madrid Open, Rublev hasn’t been in the kind of form expected of him. The Russian has not won any title since the Qatar Open. In fact, he has won just two matches since triumphing in Doha in February. But, apart from that, Rublev has never defended a title in his career.
He’s fond of crashing out early each time he hopes to defend a title. Already in Madrid, Rublev sat for an interview and revealed that his chances of claiming the title for the second consecutive time are very slim.
I have never defended my title two years in a row, so I think the chances are very slim. Usually, in most of the tournaments I win, I lose in the first round the following year. I feel good, so let’s see what happens next.
Andrey Rublev said via Madrid Open
Rublev has been a player who knows how to spring surprises in tournaments. He has enjoyed playing on clay, having won two of his biggest titles on the surface. First the Monte-Carlo and then the Madrid Open.
Andrey Rublev on what he loves about playing at the Madrid Open
Despite not giving himself a proper chance of winning the Madrid Open, Andrey Rublev will hope to rewrite his history at the tournament. After his struggles on the court since winning the Qatar Open, he has begun to play better since the clay season began. He shares the reason why he loves playing at the ATP 1000 Masters tournament in Madrid.
I like the tournament, I like the center court, I like the city, and I don’t know what suits me best because it was only one year that I had a good result there. All the other years I lost much earlier, so I guess it was just that year.
Andrey Rublev said
Rublev will be the seventh seed at the Madrid Open, with Jannik Sinner set to miss the tournament due to suspension. However, Novak Djokovic will be making his first appearance at the competition since 2022.
Andrey Rublev and Marat Safin’s partnership sparks hope but is yet to be successful
Rublev began the clay season with a new outlook for his team. The Russian added Marat Safin to his coaching team and there has been some significant change in his style of play since then. The World No.8 ended his three-match losing streak at the Monte Carlo Masters, defeating Gael Monfils 6-4, 7-6(2), but ended up losing to Arthur Fils in the round of 16.
He produced a high-level display in Barcelona to beat Jesper De Jong in straight sets. The Russian couldn’t get past Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round. Despite only winning two matches in two tournaments, Rublev seems to getting back to his best tennis little-by-little.
Rublev may still be in the process of adjusting to Safin’s new strategies and techniques, which are expected to enhance his performance over time. At the Madrid Open, the efforts put in by Rublev and Safin are touted to show results. Following a first-round bye, Rublev is set to face either a qualifier or Gael Monfils in the second round.
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