World No. 6 Andrey Rublev joined Marketa Vondrousova as shocking losers from Wimbledon singles play on Tuesday, falling to 122nd-ranked Francisco Comesana.
What had many fans talking during and after the match, however, was yet another concerning temper tantrum from Rublev during the pivotal third set.
Just horrendous to watch this constantly happen…
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) July 2, 2024
Specially because Andrey is a good guy https://t.co/bgHh6Czkvc
Wow. Wow. Wow.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) July 2, 2024
#122 Francisco Comesana beats #6 Andrey Rublev 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 7-6(5) for the first grass court win of his career. Into the 2nd round at #Wimbledon.
Rublev, a quarterfinalist in 2023, is the first top 10 to lose on the Men's Draw.
Comesana d. Andrey Rublev 6-4 5-7 6-3 7-6 at Wimbledon
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 2, 2024
World #122.
First ever win on tour.
First Grand Slam main draw.
First win at a Grand Slam.
First win against a top 10 player.
Only his second match ever on grass
What did we just watch.
Soak it in, Francisco. pic.twitter.com/nNF4tnlrcB
The Russian 26-year-old addressed the incident following the defeat.
Andrey Rublev was asked about fans who are worried about him & his on court behavior:
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 2, 2024
“Fans online, after you hit yourself with a racquet 7 times, are quite worried about you. I know you’re saying it wasn’t as bad as Paris, but fans are quite worried. Is it something that’s on… pic.twitter.com/gZhLFLcUF4
“I wouldn’t do it if I was able to hit the racquet on the floor," Rublev said. "Because we’re not allowed to hit it on the grass.. so I don’t know.. at that moment I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to let emotions out. But thanks. Everything is fine..”
Though Rublev tried to assure fans that "everything is fine," he's had a lengthy history of these kinds of outbursts, especially in 2024.
He was disqualified from his Dubai Championships semifinal match against Alexander Bublik in the third and final set on March 1 after berating a line judge. Rublev's actions came after what he perceived to be a bad call in Bublik's favor.
Then in late May, he produced an epic tirade during a match at the French Open against Matteo Arnaldi.
Rublev became frustrated with both himself and officials and repeatedly smashed his racket on his own knee, similar to Tuesday's occurrence.
The 2024 Australian Open quarterfinalist did have a moment in 2022 showcasing his softer side, when he wrapped his semifinals win at the Dubai Championships by writing "No War Please" on the camera. This came days after Russian troops began their attack on Ukraine, beginning a war that is still going on over two years later.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!