'You need much more tactical intelligence': Andrey Rublev explains his preference for slower courts

Andrey Rublev expressed his dislike for fast hard courts in a recent interview, stating that as a spectator, he prefers to watch matches with longer rallies. The former world No. 5 is at the Canadian Open, where he reached the final in 2024, and has already advanced to the Round of 16 after a couple of good wins in the first week.

The Russian continues his search to rediscover his best level as he stays in contention to re-enter the top 10. Rublev, currently ranked No. 11, is just one win away from returning to the top 10, a move that would displace Italy's Lorenzo Musetti, who was eliminated in the third round by Alex Michelsen.

Rublev was recently interviewed by Tennis Channel, where he said that, as a fan, he prefers to watch tournaments with longer rallies and finds slower courts more interesting than faster ones. "As a spectator, I enjoy watching tennis on slow courts much more," the world No. 11 revealed.

"For instance, although many people consider Wimbledon fast, it's a surface that allows for long rallies, transitioning from defense to offense, strategizing how to structure the point, and taking the initiative. You need much more tactical intelligence and better physical condition to prevail on those types of courts because you have to be very agile and smart in moving around the court."

Rublev has won 17 titles in his career so far, six of them on clay courts, including his first Masters 1000 at the Monte-Carlo Masters against Holger Rune.

Rublev criticizes Medvedev-Popyrin Match: "All serves and one shot"

The Russian commented on the differences he has observed in his colleagues' matches. According to his comments on Tennis Channel, he was following the match between his compatriot Daniil Medvedev and the defending champion, Alexei Popyrin. "I was watching that match, and it was all serves and one shot, many unforced errors, no way to see a baseline rally," he stated.

"Even with Daniil on the court, who is a player who likes baseline rallies, but it's impossible. On these types of courts, you see much less variety tactically," he added, referring to the match that Popyrin ultimately won in three sets.

The Australian, who also defeated Rublev in last year's final, now awaits his fourth-round match against Denmark's Holger Rune, the tournament's 5th seed.

Rublev's tough win over Sonego

Andrey Rublev had to fight to defeat a resilient Lorenzo Sonego in the third round of the tournament. The Russian had a good performance on serve, with a 67% first-serve percentage and winning 88% of those points. He also hit 6 aces to the Italian's 10.

The Italian took a tight first set, taking the lead, but he couldn't maintain it from there. Rublev secured four breaks on 10 opportunities, while Sonego had two breaks on four opportunities. After two hours and 33 minutes, the Russian claimed a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory. Rublev is now looking to return to a Masters 1000 quarterfinal for the first time since the Cincinnati Open 2024, after seven consecutive Masters 1000 tournaments without getting past the third round.

Rublev faces Davidovich Fokina in Round of 16

The two-time Masters 1000 champion, Rublev, will face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the Round of 16. Their head-to-head record is 5-1 in Rublev's favor. The Russian won their first five consecutive encounters between 2020 and 2024, but this year at the Barcelona Open, Davidovich Fokina found a way to overcome Rublev on a clay court.

Davidovich Fokina arrives in great form after reaching the DC Open final—the third final he's reached this season. He once again came away empty-handed, however, as he continues his search for his first professional title. It was also his second final where he wasted match points, having done so previously in Delray Beach against Miomir Kecmanovic and then against Alex de Minaur.