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Andrey Rublev Australian Open 2021
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‘It helps me to think I can easily lose to anyone’, says Andrey Rublev after reaching Monte Carlo third round


Andrey Rublev said it helps him to think he could lose easily to any player after winning his first clay court match of the season at the Monte Carlo Masters.

The world No. 8 defeated Salvatore Caruso 6-3, 6-2 to reach the third round of the ATP Masters 1000 event on Wednesday. The 23-year-old broke the Italian world No. 89 three times and did not drop serve in a comfortable win.

“In general, I’m happy with my game for the first match on clay season,” the Russian said in an on-court interview.

“I was a bit tight, because obviously I didn’t practise a lot on clay and I didn’t play matches before. And Caruso he was playing since qualifying, so he got used to the clay already.

“And on clay he is really dangerous, so yeah I’m really happy I could win in straight sets. Quite confident. For the first match I played really well, so we’ll see if I can keep improving my level. If I can keep playing the same way.”

Rublev was also asked about how confident he is after his coach Fernando Vicente said how mentally strong he now is.

“I don’t know actually, not at all because every match I am thinking that I could lose easily with any player, and I think it helped me also,” Rublev answered.

“I’m just thinking what I need to improve, not the things I’m doing more or less okay.”

Rublev will play either Roberto Bautista Agut or Tommy Paul in the third round.


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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.