By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday November 18, 2022
Rublev rallied from a set down against Tsitsipas to reach the last four at the ATP Finals for the first time.
Photo Source: Getty
Down a set and staring at a third consecutive loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2022, Andrey Rublev turned on the afterburners and raced away with a satisfying victory.
The 25-year-old Russian rallied past Tsitsipas, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 to set a semifinal clash with Casper Ruud at the ATP Finals.
It has been a comfortable matchup for Rublev in the past – the 25-year-old owns a 4-1 lifetime edge over Norway’s finest, but it was Ruud who won their pair's last meeting, at last year’s ATP Finals.
Saturday's other semifinal will feature five-time champion Novak Djokovic and ATP Finals debutant Taylor Fritz. Djokovic, who has yet to lose a match this year in Turin, owns a 4-0 lifetime edge over Fritz.
Rublev says he has enormous mistake for two-time Slam finalist Ruud and is looking forward to the test.
“I don't know if it can be different or not," he said, referring to last year's clash in Turin. "But I'm really looking forward, because Casper is such a nice person inside the court and outside the court. He's a great player, a great fighter and he achieved so many good things this season. So it's going to be a really good challenge for me."
Rublev didn't drop serve across the final two sets on Friday as he won nine of the final 11 games against Tsitsipas. He says it was important to stay focused and keep believing that he could win.
“I showed my emotions a bit after I lost the stupid game being 40-0 up in the first set – I let my emotions go when I shouldn’t have, but then I tried to keep saying ‘Okay, just keep fighting, keep playing, doesn't matter, restart,'" Rublev said. 'You still have a chance, you will have chances. At least give your best and lose with the feeling inside that you did your best' and then I was able to turn around the match and I'm super happy to be in the semis."
Tsitsipas said he felt like he was the best player and expressed his feelings on the subject:
"It's a shame. I feel like the better player," he said. "I felt like I could do more with the ball today. I felt like I could just be much more creative. I don't even have to say that. I think it's quite obvious. But, yeah, he prevailed with the few tools that he has. He was able to really take advantage of them and win today."
Rublev, upon hearing of those comments, didn't take the bait. He's clearly more focused on his semifinal with Ruud,
"Obviously he's better player because he's higher ranked and he achieved better results. It's obvious," he said. "There is no doubt. But I don't think that I beat him because of few tools."