In recent months, Rublev has developed a habit of letting out excessive negative emotions when he loses a match. The Russian flew into a rage when he exited Roland Garros just over a month ago, and now the situation is repeating itself at Wimbledon.
Andrey Rublev met Francisco Comesana in the first round of Wimbledon. The Russian was the favorite going into the match against an opponent who had never won a match in the main draw. However, things quickly went wrong for the Russian.
After losing the first set, Rublev won the second, leveling the score 1-1, but the Russian then lost the next two sets and the match ended 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 7-. 6 (5) in favor of Comesana. Rublev’s defeat was a shock, but not as shocking as his behavior on the court.
Rublev’s anger boiled over after losing a point in the third set. The Russian hit his knee with his racket several times and shouted toward the coach’s box.
Speaking about his outburst in the post-match press conference, Rublev admitted that he wanted to express his frustration because he couldn’t control his emotions. The Russian admitted that he is trying to improve his behavior on the court, but it will take time.
“I wouldn’t hit myself if I could throw the racket, but you can’t hit it on the grass. I needed to let out my emotions. In general, this is an attempt at self-improvement. This process takes time,” Andrei Rublev said.
Rublev’s loss of control over his emotions on the court is no longer news to tennis fans. The Russian has shown his tantrums on several occasions this season and this could be the perfect time for the ATP to step in and push Rublev in the right direction.
Andrey Rublev had a difficult 2024. The Russian tennis player won his biggest title of the season at the Madrid Open, but his form before and after the tournament was disappointing. In addition to his performances, Rublev’s breakdowns on the court also made headlines.
Rublev was disqualified in the semi-finals of the Dubai Open after he shouted in the face of a line judge, leading to his disqualification. He is now in the spotlight again for the same reasons, performing in Halle. The Russian tennis player saved three match points against Marcos Giron, but was unable to save the fourth and ultimately lost the match. Rublev then smashed his racket on the grass court and started shouting again to express his frustration.
Rublev has demonstrated similar behavior before at Grand Slam tournaments. The Russian was visibly upset during his third-round loss at Roland Garros to Matteo Arnaldi, losing his temper on several occasions and shouting at the coach’s box. His frustration boiled over during the fourth set when he hit his knee with his racket and then hit himself in the head. These displays of anger can take a toll on Andrey’s mental health. Rublev smashing his head and knee with his racket and shouting uncontrollably at umpires and coaches is an unpleasant sight for a tennis fan, and it’s time the ATP took a stand to support players like him.
These days, an athlete is under constant scrutiny, which can lead to too much pressure. With mental health being a top priority, the ATP should potentially consider helping these players. With more than four such incidents in 2024 alone, Rublev needs help to improve his mental health.
Vyacheslav Gorbachev, Athletistic
Source: Sport
I’m Rose Brown , a journalist and writer with over 10 years of experience in the news industry. I specialize in covering tennis-related news for Athletistic, a leading sports media website. My writing is highly regarded for its quick turnaround and accuracy, as well as my ability to tell compelling stories about the sport.
