Andrey Rublev has become a fans’ favourite. Much to his supporters’ delight, the 25-year-old was put on the hot seat in this week’s edition of ATP Uncovered.

Stars from the ATP Tour and the Hologic WTA Tour provided questions for Rublev to answer.

“Seeing Daniil on video, I don’t like it already,” Rublev said when his close friend Daniil Medvedev popped up on the screen.

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Little did Rublev know that Medvedev would ask three questions, whether the World No. 6 liked it or not.

Medvedev was not the only one who asked cheeky questions. One player wanted to know, “Why do you make that one really distinct noise when you grunt?”

Find out who asked that question, Rublev’s answer and more by watching the full feature above.

Carlos Alcaraz will step out onto Pista Rafa Nadal on Sunday hoping to secure a home victory at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. Even if Stefanos Tsitsipas denies the 19-year-old defending champion in the final, the event in Catalunya will continue to represent a much-loved entity within Spanish tennis.

“This event is important,” Alcaraz’s countryman Albert Ramos-Vinolas told ATPTour.com this week as the clay-court ATP 500 celebrates its 70th anniversary. “It [used to be] the only one that we had in Spain. After we had Valencia also, and now Madrid, but I think because the tournament is in a club, it’s like Queen’s maybe. It’s a special tournament for everybody, for us and for all the fans that are coming.”

The World No. 58 Ramos-Vinolas is not alone in his view that the setting makes the tournament stand out. The Real Club de Tenis Barcelona-1899, nestled in the leafy neighbourhood of Pedralbes, has played an interweaving role in the journeys of many Spanish stars, past and present.

Former World No. 3 David Ferrer is one such example. He visited the event regularly as a child, reached the final four times as a player (falling to 12-time champion Rafael Nadal on each occasion), and is now the tournament director.

“[The event] is part of history,” Ferrer, who grew up down the coast from Barcelona in Valencia, told ATP Media. “It is a tournament that everyone wants to play here in Barcelona. The city is very important, the [club] is different to other tennis clubs. It is not easy in this era to have an ATP tournament in a tennis club.

“I think all professional players start playing in a tennis club, and you know to play a tournament in a tennis club is nice for all the pro tennis players.”

In the Open Era, the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell has been won by a home favourite 25 times. Like Ferrer, Alex Corretja never got his hands on the trophy, but the former World No. 2 nonetheless cherishes coming back each year to catch up with old friends.

“It’s different and special for us because we grew up here,” Corretja told ATP Media. “When you were a little kid, you came here to watch the professionals. Of course, everybody was dreaming to one day become a champion and be able to play in front of the crowd. I think that’s why when you grow up in a city that has a nice tournament, you always like to do very well there.

“Barcelona is such a great city [and] the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona is something special. It’s a members’ club, a very traditional one. Everybody knows you here.”

With the 19-year-old Alcaraz set to lead Spanish hopes on the court for another generation, Ferrer intends to use the 70th anniversary celebrations as a springboard to ensure that the Barcelona tournament continues to inspire young talents and fans of all ages, from the local area and from afar.

“It’s amazing that this year is the 70th anniversary,” said Ferrer. “We are really happy with the people that work in the event, because this year we tried to improve a lot. Everyone has the chance to come here and watch the best players in the world.”

Carlos Alcaraz’s perfect week continues at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.

The top-seeded Spaniard eased past Daniel Evans 6-2, 6-2 on Saturday to reach the championship match at the clay-court ATP 500, where he is bidding to become the first repeat champion since Rafael Nadal lifted the trophy three years in a row from 2016-18.

Now 22-2 for the year, Alcaraz will take on Stefanos Tsitsipas as he chases his third tour-level title of 2023. The Buenos Aires and Indian Wells champion enters that clash holding a 3-0 ATP Head2Head series lead against Tsitsipas, a tally that includes a three-set quarter-final win in Barcelona last year.

“I feel really comfortable playing here in Barcelona and [I am] playing well,” said Alcaraz, who will try to successfully defend a title for the first time in his career against Tsitsipas. “Stefanos as well is playing great matches. Last year we had a spicy match, let’s say. I know he’s a really nice guy off the court, so I’m going to try to forget everything that has happened in the matches before, try to focus on my game tomorrow, and try to get the win.”

Alcaraz was clinical with his chances to down Evans in 81 minutes on Pista Rafa Nadal, where he converted five of his seven break points. Evans deployed typical variety in his shots, but his tactics were expertly countered by Alcaraz, who has now won all eight sets he has played this week at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona-1899.

“It’s so special to play a final here in Barcelona, a tournament that I love playing,” said Alcaraz. “I came to watch this tournament when I was really young and I played for this club when I was 11 or 12. I love this club, I love this tournament, and it’s so special to have the chance to lift the trophy here again.”

Alcaraz broke twice in the opening set to take command of his second tour-level meeting with Evans before opening a 4-0 lead in the second. Although the World No. 26 Evans battled valiantly to the end and was rewarded for persistently moving to the net with his only break of the match in the fifth game, Alcaraz’s all-court game repeatedly proved too good.

The Spaniard’s ability to attack Evans’ serve was the defining feature of the match. Alcaraz won 57 per cent (28/49) of points on return to back up his win against the Briton in Vienna in 2021.

Stefanos Tsitsipas booked his third championship-match appearance at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell on Saturday by digging deep for a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 win against Lorenzo Musetti at the clay-court ATP 500.

The second-seeded Greek cooly rebounded from losing a closely fought second set to accelerate away in the decider for a two-hour, 29-minute victory. The Greek’s most destructive weapons, his serve and forehand, were particularly instrumental as Tsitsipas improved his perfect record against Musetti to 4-0.

“It was very physical out there,” said Tsitsipas, who now holds a 16-4 record in Barcelona. “We had to cover lots of metres on the court and he had some incredible defensive shots that I really didn’t expect at all. It was such a mental challenge, I had to go out there and fight it all through [with] the determination of a lion, and just [went] out there to do the best I can.

“He’s a very difficult challenge, especially on this court, so it required a little bit more today.”

Tsitsipas had not dropped serve across three matches in Barcelona prior to Saturday’s semi-final clash, but that record was quickly snapped by Musetti on Pista Rafa Nadal when the Italian broke in the third game. That set the tone for a meeting in which both players excelled on return, with Tsitsipas ultimately converting six of his 11 break points to Musetti’s five out of 10.

Two short bursts at important moments proved decisive for Tsitsipas to clinch the win and improve to 20-5 for the season. The Greek reeled off three games in a row from a break down at 3-4 in the opening set, and later raced into a 4-0 lead in the decider to halt his opponent’s momentum after Musetti had levelled the match.

The 24-year-old Tsitsipas was also a finalist in Barcelona in 2018 and 2021, when he twice fell to Rafael Nadal. He could face another home favourite in this year’s championship match, Carlos Alcaraz, if the top-seeded Spaniard can defeat Daniel Evans in Saturday’s second semi-final.

“Getting myself out there for another chance [to win the Barcelona title], my will is strong and so is my heart,” said Tsitsipas, who will play for his first title of 2023 on Sunday in Catalunya. “I go out there and give it a go and try the best I can. Nothing [negative] at all. Just enjoy this.”

Andrey Rublev advanced to his second final in as many weeks with a 6-2, 6-4 win against Alex Molcan on Saturday at the Srpska Open. One week after claiming his biggest title in Monte-Carlo, the Banja Luka second seed has continued his red-hot form by reaching the title match without losing a set.

“In the beginning I played really well, and then second set I lost a bit of focus,” Rublev assessed. “Alex played a few good games and I started to get tight, I started to get nervous. But in the end I was able to win and that’s the most important thing.”

The 25-year-old is bidding to join Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev in the club of players with multiple tour-level titles in 2023. He could also become the fifth man this season to win an ATP Tour trophy without losing a set, with Dusan Lajovic standing in his way in Sunday’s final.

“Of course it’s always good to finish in two sets, to not play three sets, a long match, because physically you get exhausted,” the World No. 6 said of his efficiency. “The deeper you go, it’s better if you play two sets because you’re fresher for the end of the tournament.”

Now 21-8 on the year, Rublev is 16-3 in his past 19 matches with an eight-match winning streak over the past two weeks.

Rublev saved nine of 11 break points against Molcan, including all five he faced in the opening set, while converting five of his 11 break chances on return. His baseline power overwhelmed the Slovakian early, with Rublev building a 5-1 lead in the first set and a 3-1 advantage in set two. 

But Molcan settled in as the match wore on and broke in consecutive return games in an eventful close to the second set. From 3-2, four straight games went the way of the returner. At 4-4, Rublev battled through six deuces and landed the decisive blow on his fourth break point of that marathon game, managing his emotions well after a few frustrating misses.

From 30/30 in the final game, Rublev powered through the finish line with a big forehand and a fifth ace on match point. Molcan, playing in his first semi-final of the season, was seeking his first ATP Tour title and a fourth final this week.

In the day’s second semi-final, Miomir Kecmanovic served for a place in the final. But fellow Serbian Lajovic rallied past him for a 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 victory after three hours.

Kecmanovic won an incredible point to break for 5-4 in the second set and serve for the match, but was unable to close it out and that cost him.

“Honestly he had me by the ropes. I was done,” Lajovic said in his on-court interview. “But somehow I managed to get back in the match and win the tie-break. I played pretty good in the tie-break and then I felt pretty confident in the third set even though I was going down physically. I think we both were.”

Lajovic won his only previous ATP Head2Head meeting with Rublev, but that clash came four years ago in Umag. The Serbian, who went on to win that tournament, will try to lift his second ATP Tour trophy on Sunday.

“No secrets with Andrey. I think he’s the favourite. He’s playing the best tennis of his life,” Lajovic said. “We know each other very well, so I’m hoping to be able physically to enjoy tomorrow in the final. Normally I like to play in the final, so I’m hoping for a nice match.”

The BMW Open by American Express in Munich is proving a magical tournament for Holger Rune.

The Danish star won his first tour-level title at the ATP 250 last year. On Sunday, the 19-year-old returned to the final. Rune saved all eight break points he faced to defeat Australian Christopher O’Connell 6-3, 6-2 in 79 minutes.

“It’s been a very good start to the clay season for me and to be able to continue here in Munich means a lot,” Rune said in his on-court interview. “I have very special memories from here, so super excited for tomorrow.”

Rune has been dominant in his two appearances in Munich, where he now owns an 8-0 record. The teen has never lost a set at the event.

One week after reaching the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters final, Rune has maintained his momentum in Germany. Facing a tough opponent in O’Connell, who upset two-time Munich champion Alexander Zverev earlier in the week, Rune was in control.

Despite facing eight break points, the 19-year-old played solid tennis under pressure. Rune was opportunistic on return, converting three of his four break points to triumph after 79 minutes.

“I think today was a good match,” Rune said. “I had to be solid. Chris, he played a very good tournament beating some great players, so I’m very happy.”

Rune will face fourth seed Botic van de Zandschulp for the trophy in a rematch of the 2022 Munich final. Last year in the championship match, van de Zandschulp retired during the first set due to an aching chest.

“It means a lot, especially after last year. I had to retire in the final,” the Dutchman said after defeating second seed Taylor Fritz 6-4, 7-6(2) in their semi-final. “I think I have to make something up this year, so let’s hope I can try that tomorrow and we will see.”

There were multiple momentum swings in van de Zandschulp’s win against Fritz, who was attempting to reach his first ATP Tour final on clay. The American rallied from a break down in the second set and raised his level to close in on forcing a decider.

But in the tie-break, van de Zandschulp remained solid and took advantage of Fritz’s mistakes. The Dutchman saved four of the five break points he faced to triumph after one hour and 49 minutes.

“[I] played really good tennis today. Didn’t make a lot of mistakes and I think Taylor is playing amazing at the moment, reaching so many semi-finals in Masters and even further,” van de Zandschulp said. “He’s a great player and I had to play really good today.”

Jamie Murray and Michael Venus claimed their second ATP Tour title as a team with a 7-5, 6-2 win against Francisco Cabral and Aleksandr Nedovyesov in Saturday’s Srpska Open final. The British-Kiwi pair, which has exclusively played together this season, did not face a break point in the title match behind an 82 per cent win rate on both first and second serve.

The reigning Dallas champions improved to 2-1 this year in finals (Adelaide-I) with the victory, having reached the title match after saving a match point against in the quarter-finals against Gonzalo Escobar and Diego Hidalgo. The trophy is Murray’s 29th and Venus’ 19th at tour-level.

“It’s our second title together which is cool. It’s only April,” Murray said post-match. “There’s a big swing coming up with a lot of ranking points on offer, a lot of big events. I think for us to come here and put together four really good matches is good news for us going forward. Hopefully we can keep that momentum going.”

Their four wins this week moved Murray/Venus up five spots to 10th place in the Pepperstone ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings, putting them within touching distance of the Nitto ATP Finals qualifying spots.

“I think [Turin] is our goal,” Murray added. “I think that most of the teams’ goal at the start of the year is to try to qualify for Turin. We’ve both been fortunate to play at that event in the past a few times. I think for the doubles guys it is a special event. It’s one that everyone wants to be part of.

“We know if we want to do that we’ve got to win a lot of matches, and this makes a good start.”

Discussing the ATP 250’s new location in Banja Luka, Venus said he enjoyed the week both on and off the court: “We’ve had great time. I think everything to do with the tournament has been amazingly run and set up. We’ve been super comfortable and really enjoyed our time here.”

Cabral and Nedovyesov were competing together for the first time this week and knocked off the third and second seeds in consecutive matches to reach the final. Cabral was seeking his third tour-level doubles title while Nedovyesov was bidding for his first.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic withdrew from the Mutua Madrid Open, the tournament announced Saturday on Twitter.

“@DjokerNole is unable to compete at the #MMOPEN,” the event tweeted. “Wishing you a speedy recovery, we hope to see you back on court as soon as possible, Nole.”

🇷🇸 @DjokerNole is unable to compete at the #MMOPEN

Wishing you a speedy recovery, we hope to see you back on court as soon as possible, Nole 😘 pic.twitter.com/M44rUvnrH1

— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) April 22, 2023

Djokovic is a three-time champion in Madrid, where he has earned a 30-9 record. Last year at the Caja Magic he reached the semi-finals, in which he fell in a final-set tie-break to Carlos Alcaraz.

The Serbian is 17-3 in 2023, including title runs in Adelaide and at the Australian Open, where he claimed his record-tying 22nd major crown. Djokovic this week competed in Banja Luka, where he lost in the semi-finals to countryman Dusan Lajovic.