'Relaxed' Rublev embracing new Turin approach

Andrey Rublev is no stranger to the year-end Nitto ATP Finals, where he is set to compete for the fifth consecutive year. But this season the 27-year-old is entering Turin with a new mindset.

Rublev, placed in the John Newcombe Group alongside a gauntlet of Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud, is embracing a lighter approach and not being weighed down by high expectations.

“In terms of results, only one year [in Turin] when I made the semi-finals [in 2022] was a great week, the rest were tougher. But I hope I learn something out of these years. We’ll see,” Rublev told ATP Media. “At least I’m trying to do a different approach this year. At least I feel more relaxed and that’s the best.

“Out of four times I’ve played, I went to the semi-finals only once. Three times I lost in the group round. So if I lose three or four times, doesn’t change anything.”

Andrey is a man in demand ❤️

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Rublev began this season on a hot streak, winning the Hong Kong title in the opening week and stretching his win streak to eight before falling in the Australian Open quarter-finals. Boasting a 42-23 season record, Rublev claimed his second ATP Masters 1000 title in Madrid, a run which he labelled “the proudest title of my career”.

Rublev entered Madrid on a four-match skid, but it did not deter him from playing some of the best tennis of his life, even when dealing with an illness. He ousted home hero Alcaraz in the quarters en route to the title and in hindsight, that week is perhaps a summary of Rublev’s 2024 season as a whole.

“It was a rollercoaster. Some amazing moments, some tough situations and bad moments,” Rublev said when reflecting on his season. “But overall I was able to make it [to the Nitto ATP Finals]. I need to be realistic. Doesn’t matter what negative thoughts I was giving myself about this season — that the season might not be as good, or could be the worst season of my career, or whatever — but realistically I was able to make it here.

“And to make it here you need to have a really good season. I wish to have all my bad seasons end like this, where I am here. There are many players who had an amazing season, beat amazing players, but they still didn’t qualify.”

Rublev will begin his campaign on Monday against Paris champion Zverev, who leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head series 6-3. The German was victorious in their first five clashes before Rublev won three consecutive in 2023. They have not met since last year in Turin, where Zverev won 6-4, 6-4.

“It’s always tough to play against Sascha. First of all, the way he serves. He has one of the best serves on Tour with a really high percentage,” Rublev said. “I have a long history with Sascha. He beat me a lot of times over the years, I beat him a couple times last year. It’s going to be interesting. It’s going to be a great challenge for me.”

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