By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, October 30, 2024
Photo credit: Tennis TV Screen Shot
Bruising baseline play is Andrey Rublev's forte.
Today, Rublev turned tennis to blood sport.
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Frustrated during his 7-6, 7-6 Rolex Paris Masters loss to Francisco Cerundolo, Rublev turned himself into human pinata.
Watch Rublev wield his Head racquet like a hammer and batter his own knee bloody in a punishing display of self abuse.
In a display that may well make Mikhail Youzhny cringe, Rublev ruthlessly pounds his knee with his racquet.
The latest act of self-abuse left some wondering on social media if the Madrid champion needs a therapist, knee pads or plasma bag when taking the court.
Talk about getting hammered.
Rublev's latest self-assault comes months after a similar meltdown at Wimbledon.
Rublev slammed his stick off his knee seven times, by our count, during the tantrum at SW19.
Afterward, Rublev offered a simple explanation for beating the crap out of his knee rather than resorting to his customary play of smashing his racquet to smithereens off the court: It's too costly to damage the prestigious SW19 lawn.
“I would not do it if I was able to hit the racquet on the floor,” Rublev told the media at Wimbledon. “Because we're not allowed to hit them with the grass.
"I don't know why in that moment, I couldn't take it anymore. I needed to let emotions out. But thanks, everything is fine. Again, I was a bit lucky.”
Off the court, Rublev is one of the most gentle, polite, even-tempered souls on the ATP Tour.
Put him in the pressure cooker of competition, turn up the temperature and typically it’s only a matter of top before Rublev blows his lid.