By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, April 16, 2023
Andrey Rublev rallied from 1-4 down in the decider repelling aHolger Rune 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 to capture his maiden Masters championship in Monte-Carlo.
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Staring at the service box, Andrey Rublev realized masterful comeback vision.
Rublev rocketed an ace out wide to wrap a rousing Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters final comeback in style then fell flat on his back bathing in red clay and soaking in the biggest title of his career.
Medvedev on Zverev: We Were Never Friends
A resilient Rublev rallied from 1-4 down in the decider repelling a jittery, weary Holger Rune 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 to capture his maiden Masters 1000 championship on the red clay of the Monte-Carlo Country Club.
On the brink of going down a double break in the decider, Rublev could see his Masters hope dissipating in the dirt.
The world No. 6 kept the faith, continued firing his forehand and even tossed in a couple of timely topspin lobs to completely flip the script of a set that seemed formality.
Seeing his 19-year-old opponent blink at the finish line, Rublev realized his opportunity and ran with it reeling off six of the final seven games to collect his 13th career title and improve to 4-2 in career clay-court finals.
"I don't know what to say, to be honest," Rublev said. "I'm just happy finally struggling so much to win this freaking 1000 tournament. Finally.
"I don't know, [I was] losing 4-1, love-30, saving break points thinking that it's no chance to win and somehow I did it. I don't know man."
One labeled a hot head who had a history of coming up short in the clutch, Rublev shattered that stereotype with calm resolve—and a big assist from Rune, who nearly had his hands on the title trophy only to struggle with apparent cramping, begin barking at his box and played a horrific service game, slapping successive smashes into the net, belting a ball out of the stadium and double-faulting away the decisive break at 6-5.
Afterward, a beaming Rublev gave credit to both his teenage opponent and the capacity crowd, which included Prince Albert and Princess Charlene on hand to present the trophies.
"I want to congratulate Holger: you're too freaking young man and you already have a 1000 title please give me one time to win it," Rublev said before addressing fans directly.
"The last thing I just want to say a big thanks to all of you guys because being from the country where I am and to have international support all over the world it means a lot so thank you so much guys, thank you," Rublev said.
It was the third time in the tournament Rublev rallied from a set down to prevail following his 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 comeback conquest of American No. 1 Taylor Fritz in yesterday's semifinals.
Last November, Rune rallied from a break down in the decisive set and fought off six break points in the fierce final game to dethrone defending champion Novak Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 and capture his maiden Masters championship in a pulsating Paris Masters final thriller last November.
Today, Rune carried a 7-2 record vs. the Top 10 going back to that Paris title run onto court and put himself in position to take the title but could not close. Rune conceded he was drained from his 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 semifinal victory over Jannik Sinner on Saturday evening.
"I obviously feel like it was a long match yesterday," Rune said. "We finished late. You know, I didn't have much time to recover.
"It is what it is. I gave it all. Didn't have any more in me. I did what I could, and I was very close."
The truth is, Rune may well rue this as a major opportunity squandered—and a haunting case of deja vu comeback from Rublev.
"I was definitely in control in the third set and also I would say mostly in the first set as well. But again, didn't manage to close it out," Rune said. "Disappointing, but again, it's part of tennis.
"Just got to see what I did wrong, what I can do better, and move on, because, you know, the most important tournament of the clay season is the French Open, so, you know, if I can prepare myself as best as possible for that one, that's what matters."
This final was a rematch of the pulsating Australian Open round of 16 that saw Rublev save two match points and rally from love-5 down in the fifth-set tiebreaker to ruin Rune's quarterfinal hopes with a stirring 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(9) Melbourne victory.
The tiebreak was a heartbreak for Rune in Melbourne, but today in Monte-Carlo Rune's self-sabotage shattered his title hopes.
The first teenager to reach the Monte-Carlo final since a 19-year-old Rafa Nadal in 2006, Rune sent a statement of intent in Rublev's opening service games.
The Dane pounced on a second serve and ripped a backhand return Rublev repelled. Despite a couple of double faults, Rublev saved a pair of break points, bolting a backhand down the line, to hold firm in the second game.
Sweat soaked nearly the entire back of his salmon-colored shirt as Rune fended off two break points before raking a forehand winner down the line for 2-1.
Deadlocked at 4-all, Rune hit his second double fault to face an eighth break point.
The sixth seeded saved it with a stinging serve and a loud "come on!" eventually holding for 5-4 after 44 minutes.
Some fans were chanting "Andrey! Andrey!" during the 10th game and Rublev responded, rocketing a forehand strike crosscourt to level again after 10 games.
Dogged defense and scoreboard pressure helped Rune snatch the break in the 12th game to seal the opening set.
Sliding behind the baseline, Rune jabbed back a flick that landed on the back edge of the baseline. Rublev was falling backwards as he slapped a forehand into the net to face set point. A sloppy stretch cost Rublev.
Keeping his drives deep, Rune challenged Rublev to create offense. The two-time finalist flew a forehand beyond the baseline as Rune registered a one-set lead after 58 minutes.
Though Rune won just nine of 23 second-serve points, he played with calm clarity on crucial points saving seven of eight break points in the set. Rublev, who was finding his rhythm mid-way through the set, was left to rue lost opportunity.
Resetting, Rublev was again ripping his forehand with damaging intent. Drawing a pair of errors, Rublev started the second set with the break.
Red hair spilling over his headband, Rublev rolled his second ace down the middle confirming the break with a love hold for 2-0.
The Russian had two more break points to go up a double break, but Rune refused to yield navigating a crucial hold in the third game.
Deploying the drop shot effectively again, Rune bled errors from the Russian to break back for 2-2.
In this set, each time Rublev faced a setback, he shook it off and came back firing. Rublev broke right back igniting a run that saw him sweep through the rest of the set.
Straddling the baseline, Rublev did damage with his forehand, but it wasn't all grip and rip attack. A Rublev rainbow lob helped him carve out his fourth break for a 5-2 lead.
On his second set point, Rublev closed the set when Rune scattered a return. Rublev forced a final set after 90 minutes of play as the crowd roared its support of this final going the distance.
Though he's listed at 6'2", the rangy Rune can return like a man with a 6'7" wingspan. Blasting a backhand return winner down the line, Rune rapped a forehand return winner down the opposite sideline for a break point.
Pounding away at the Rublev backhand wing, Rune drew the error and repeatedly pumped his first to the crowd breaking for a 2-0 third-set lead.
The Rolex Paris Masters champion confirmed the break at 15 for a 3-0 advantage.
Clutching at his legs at times, Rune looked to be battling fatigue or the onset of cramps or both as the set progressed. Rublev tightened the tension screws earning a pair of break points.
Showing serious guts, Rune rapped a forehand winner down the line then swatted an ace to erase the second break point. Successive aces helped the teenager work through a demanding nine-minute hold for a 4-1 lead. Rune took a visit from the trainer after surviving that stiff test.
Two holds from the title, Rune hit turbulence trying to pull the trigger and end points prematurely.
Across the net, Rublev took it all on and made his move as his teenage opponent wilted.
Dumping his eighth double fault, Rune faced triple break point. Rublev coaxed a wild backhand error bellowing a primal scream as he broke back for 3-4.
During the ensuing changeover Rune, in a move reminiscent of the young Andy Murray admonished his box shouting "give me something!"
Though Rublev is no stoic himself, he saw the teenager struggling physically and emotionally and wisely played with patience stretching the court and testing Rune's legs.
In the 11th game, Rune imploded in a spectacular fashion that cost him the crown.
Slapping successive smashes into net, Rune wound up and belted a ball out of the stadium drawing some whistles and jeers and incurring a code violation warning ball abuse. Rune dug a deeper hole for himself pasting a backhand into net to face two break points.
The teenager torched an 89 mph backhand down the line to save the first but hit his ninth double fault deep (the majority of Rune's double faults were long telling you he's getting the racquet head speed but not snapping fully for control) to gift-wrap Rublev the break and a 6-5 lead.
The sparkling silver shiny trophy was gleaming from its perch in the stands as Rublev streamed to triple championship point.
On his second championship point, Rublev razed his fifth ace out wide then fell flat on his back in triumph.
Bathing in red clay, the red-haired Rublev rose cloaked in clots of red clay and a wide smile of a Masters champion at last.