Editor’s note: This story was translated from ATPTour.com/es

Twenty-five seasons have gone by since Feliciano Lopez took to the clay of the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona-1899 to play in the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell for the first time. It was April 1998, and the Spaniard was a promising young 16-year-old who had been given a wild card for the qualifiers. After winning two matches, he played the first of the 991 main-draw tour-level matches he has competed in so far during his distinguished career.

It was a brief first encounter with ATP Tour tennis, because Jiri Novak sent him packing in the first round, 6-0, 6-2. “I came back down to earth with a bang,” Lopez told ATPTour.com this week in Barcelona. “He thrashed me, and I told myself: ‘Time to practise, there is still a long way to go’. I would have signed on the dotted line for everything that has happened to me since that match.”

That teenager could never have imagined the records he would go on to set: playing more consecutive Grand Slam main draws than any other player, participating in more ATP Masters 1000s than anyone else, and being a member of the 500-wins club.

Even though his breakthrough came on clay, the young Lopez was different to his compatriots. He didn’t fit the mould of a classic Spanish player. His qualities were different, try as they might to make him like the rest. He was a rebel, a left-hander with an exceptional serve and an innate gift for volleying.

“In my day Spaniards didn’t go to Wimbledon, it was said that grass was for cows,” he remembers with a chuckle. “I wasn’t told, based on my physique and my style of play, that I had to focus on fast courts. I was another product of the system of that era, a prototype Spanish player on clay.”

His time as a junior, as was the norm, was spent at satellite tournaments (such as those on the ATP Challenger Tour) in Spain, while he also enjoyed junior experiences at Roland Garros and the Orange Bowl. “As I grew up, I started to feel that I wasn’t really that style of player,” said Lopez.

Still a teenager, he set off with his father to play in his first Wimbledon qualifiers. “I think I won a match, although it wasn’t a great experience for me,” he said. He would have to wait until 2002 for his first magic moment on the green lawns.

Ranked No. 103 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Lopez earned himself a place in the main draw at 2002 Wimbledon. On his first appearance at the grass-court Grand Slam, he reached the fourth round.

“I played a match in the last sixteen against Andre Sa, who wasn’t a grass specialist, but I was 20 years old, and I couldn’t play because I was so nervous,” said Lopez. “I kept thinking that I was in the last sixteen, against an opponent I could beat if I played well and then I would face [Tim] Henman, the home favourite, on centre court at Wimbledon. The situation was too much for me. That’s when I realised grass was a surface I could play well on.

“On grass, I feel comfortable after five minutes, the ball bounces low, which I like, my serve works… But I had never experienced it as a kid because we didn’t play on it,” he continues. “It was unexpected, but I realised straight away. That’s how it was. When I played in the quarters in 2005, no Spaniard had gone that far since Manuel Orantes. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with it.”

Such was his prowess on the surface that he produced a huge upset on it late in his career. In 2019, he won the Cinch Championships in both singles and doubles (with Andy Murray) at The Queen’s Club.

“If anyone had told me at 16 years of age that I’d be playing tennis at 37 I would have said they were crazy,” he admits. “Now I think about it, and it seems impossible. Sometimes we’re really not aware of the things that happen to us. When you analyse all of this, winning the singles and doubles at Queen’s, you think; I have been so lucky in life.”

It is this luck, of a privileged physique and a unique style, that allowed him to bust a Spanish myth; that grass is only for cows.

#NextGenATP Frenchman Luca Van Assche picked up his first Top 100 win on Monday at the Srpska Open in Banja Luka, coming back from a set down and recovering a break deficit in the final set to defeat Stan Wawrinka at the ATP 250.

The 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 result gave Van Assche his second tour-level win and sets up a second-round showdown with World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in Bosnia & Herzegovina.

“I’m very happy with my win. It was a pleasure to play in front of you all,” said the 18-year-old, who won the crowd over with his smooth game over the course of the two hour, 42 minute match. “It’s normal that at the beginning [the fans] were for Stan because he’s an amazing legend of the sport and I’m very happy to win this match.”

The Frenchman saved eight of 11 break points, including four at 5-5 in the second set, to set himself up for the biggest victory of his career. In the final set, he won four straight games after falling a break behind at 1-3, absorbing the heavy baseline blows of Wawrinka to turn the match around.

Van Assche made his ATP Tour debut last year in Antwerp before picking up his first tour-level win earlier this month in Estoril. After entering this week at a career high of World No. 87, he moved up four further places in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings to No. 83 with his Monday win.

After discussing his opening triumph, Van Assche looked ahead to his first meeting with Djokovic: “It will be incredible for me and I’m only 18,” he said. “I know that the crowd will not be with me, I think, but I will enjoy it and I will try to win.”

Also on Monday in Banja Luka, Alexei Popyrin upset fifth seed Tallon Griekspoor 7-6(4), 7-6(4) in a match that did not feature a break of serve. Popyrin erased all three break points against him while Griekspoor fought off seven. The Aussie dominated on first serve, winning 89 per cent (39/44) of points behind his first delivery in the victory.

His next opponent will be Alex Molcan, who advanced with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 win against Japan’s Taro Daniel. The Slovakian was an efficient six-for-eight on break points in his first action since a hip injury forced his withdrawal in Miami ahead of a third-round meeting with eventual champion Daniil Medvedev.

In the day’s final singles match, Dusan Lajovic led Filip Krajinovic 6-2, 4-6, 2-0 in an all-Serbian affair that was suspended due to rain. They will resume on Tuesday as they bid to reach the second round in Novak Djokovic’s quarter.

Marcos Giron picked up his first career win at the BMW Open by American Express with an upset of seventh seed Roberto Carballes Baena on Monday in Munich.

The American earned a 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 victory against the Spaniard in his second appearance at the ATP 250. In fourth seed Botic van de Zandschulp’s quarter, Giron will meet Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff or Swiss qualifier Alexander Ritschard in the second round. Now 10-9 on the season, he can reach his fourth tour-level quarter-final of 2023 with another victory in Munich. 

“I’m really happy with the win,” he said in an on-court interview. “It was kind of a tale of three sets. The first set I came out and played great. The second set [I was] a little sloppier, he raised his level, and the third I’m really happy with it. There were a few close moments and I did well.”

Giron was a constant threat on return in the two-hour, 12-minute match, creating 14 break chances and converting five of them. He also fired five aces and won 81 per cent of his first-serve points, saving two of four break points.

Flavio Cobolli also advanced on Monday in Munich with a 7-5, 6-1 win against Aussie Jordan Thompson. The Italian was an efficient five-of-six on break points and now awaits fifth seed Sebastian Baez or Germany’s Oscar Otte in the second round.

Eighth seed Marc-Andrea Huesler will meet Kyle Edmund to close the day’s play on the Munich centre court.

Haier, the number one brand globally in major appliances, has today become the Official Home Appliances Partner and Gold Partner of the ATP Tour.

This partnership will provide a premium platform for Haier to promote its latest innovations and sustainability focus to tennis fans – a community numbering more than one billion globally. This aligns with Haier’s Zero Distance strategy, which aims to bring the brand closer to audiences attracted to outstanding performance, tailor-made, smart and ecosystem experiences.

Haier will receive on-court, in-arena and on-site visibility at a portfolio of top ATP Tour events: the Nitto ATP Finals, Internazionali BNL d’Italia, Rolex Paris Masters, Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, Cinch Championships (London Queen’s Club) and Hamburg European Open in 2023. Haier will also benefit from world-class corporate hospitality experiences and exposure on ATP Tour’s digital channels.

This marks the latest major sponsorship for Haier, following a recently announced deal with Roland-Garros, in partnership with the French Tennis Federation (FFT). It directly supports the company’s global growth strategy, building on its position as the first consumer choice for smart solutions.

Daniele Sanò, ATP Chief Business Officer, said: “We’re excited to announce our partnership with Haier, a leading company that shares our commitment to excellence and innovation. Together, we look forward to bringing new experiences to our fans and showcasing the reach and versatility of the ATP Tour’s global platform.”

“We are excited to enter the world of tennis, characterised by passion, ambition and desire to grow, features that also distinguish Haier and that have made it the number one brand globally in major appliances,” said Yannick Fierling, CEO, Haier Europe. “I am sure that Haier’s corporate philosophy will fit perfectly with the values promoted by tennis, and the competitive spirit of the world’s best players. Our partnership will also support the tournaments’ move into a new technological dimension while retaining what makes them strong: commitment, tradition and performance”.

High-end activations will be revealed over the course of the season, as Haier focuses on providing smart-life experiences to fans.

Ben Shelton continued his impressive start to his career on red clay on Monday at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, where he downed fellow American Mackenzie McDonald 7-5, 6-4 to reach the second round at the ATP 500.

The #NextGenATP American, who only competed on red clay for the first time in his life in Estoril two weeks ago, converted five of his six break points to clinch a 99-minute win against the World No. 54 McDonald. His kick serve and huge forehand were particularly instrumental as he won four games in a row from 2-4 in the second set to claim victory.

“I thought that this was definitely a good start to the tournament for me,” the 20-year-old Shelton told ATPTour.com. “I think that I did some things well, some things I could have done better, and over the next couple of days I’m going to hope to improve on those things and sharpen my game.

“I’m happy with the way that I competed today, and obviously playing on a clay court, things are going to happen. There’s a little more back and forth and things can get tricky, so I’m happy with how tough I was mentally today and my competitive spirit.”

Shelton next faces third seed Casper Ruud in Barcelona. Last August, when he was still a relatively unknown No. 299-ranked college player, the American stunned Ruud in straight sets on the hard courts of Cincinnati. This time around, Shelton knows he will have to find a path to victory without the element of surprise against the Norwegian, who is a nine-time ATP Tour titlist on clay.

“Different surface, different circumstances,” said Shelton, currently at a career-high No. 37 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. “I don’t think he had any idea who I was the last time I played him, and I know he knows me now. I assume that he’ll be more prepared for some of my things I’m going to throw at him and I’m really excited for that matchup.”

Also on Monday, Bernabe Zapata Miralles gave the home fans something to cheer in the opening match on Pista Rafa Nadal. The 26-year-old Spaniard defeated Attila Balazs 6-2, 6-2 to improve to 10-9 for the season and set an all-Spanish second-round meeting with 13th seed Roberto Bautista Agut.

Pablo Andujar was unable to join his countrymen in the second round. Tomas Martin Etcheverry defeated the 2015 finalist 6-2, 7-5 on his Barcelona debut to advance to a second-round meeting with Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Nuno Borges also prevailed in straight sets against Ilya Ivashka. The World No. 79’s 6-2, 6-3 triumph earned him a Tuesday clash against top seed and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.

Emil Ruusuvuori enjoyed a comfortable opening win at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona-1899. The Finn dispatched Alexander Bublik 6-0, 6-3 in just 56 minutes to prevail against the Kazakh in Barcelona for the second time in as many years. Ruusuvuori’s next opponent will be fifth seed Frances Tiafoe. Nicolas Jarry, a titlist on clay already this year in Santiago, beat Marco Trungelliti 7-5, 6-3.

The first clay-court ATP Masters 1000 event of the season at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters saw Andrey Rublev lift the title, while several Top 100 stars enjoyed deep runs.

ATPTour.com looks at the movers of the week in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings as of Monday, 17 April 2023.

View Pepperstone ATP Rankings

No. 7 Holger Rune, +2 (Career High)
The 19-year-old has climbed two spots to a career-high No. 7 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings after he reached his second ATP Masters 1000 final in Monte-Carlo. The Dane was the first teenager to advance to the title match in the Principality since then-19-year-old Rafael Nadal in 2006. He defeated Dominic Thiem, Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner before falling to Andrey Rublev. Read Monte-Carlo Final Report & Watch Highlights.

No. 4 Daniil Medvedev, +1
The 27-year-old has jumped one place after reaching the quarter-finals at the clay-court event. Medvedev, who was competing in Monaco for the first time since 2019, earned a statement win against Alexander Zverev to improve to 8-6 in their ATP Head2Head series.

No. 64 Jan-Lennard Struff, +36
The German reached his first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final since Cincinnati in 2020 when he advanced to the last eight in Monte-Carlo. The 32-year-old, who arrived in the Principality with just two tour-level wins this season, came through qualifying before upsetting seeds Alex de Minaur and Casper Ruud. Struff has climbed 36 spots to No. 64 following his run.

Other Notable Top 100 Movers
No. 3 Casper Ruud, +1
No. 25 Roberto Bautista Agut, +4
No. 36 Jiri Lehecka, +6 (Career High)
No. 49 Jack Draper, +7
No. 51 Nicolas Jarry, +7
No. 61 Ilya Ivashka, +13
No. 81 Alexei Popyrin, +13
No. 84 Stan Wawrinka, +6
No. 93 Daniel Altmaier, +20
No. 98 Alexander Shevchenko, +9 (Career High)

Thirty-one straight backhands in the court with the match on the line.

Andrey Rublev defeated Holger Rune 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 in the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters final by putting 31 straight backhands in the court from 1-4 down in the deciding set. Rublev missed his thirty-second backhand in the net going down the line serving at 6-5 40/0. It was an inconsequential error. An ace out wide at 40/15 on the ensuing point sealed a momentous victory.

Rublev’s backhand was the rock that got him over the finish line. Rublev also extracted seven errors using his backhand groundstroke from 1-4 down in the final set, with four being a Rune backhand, which overheated deep in the deciding set.

During the same period, with Rune leading 4-1 in the deciding set, Rune’s backhand broke down under self-imposed pressure. The Dane hit 31 backhands, committing six errors while hitting two winners and only extracting one error from Rublev (a forehand groundstroke).

Rublev’s backhand was always going in. Rune’s was much more of a wild card as the finish line rushed hard at both players.

The deciding set also featured three crucial moments in which Rune’s forehand return, serve, and overhead let him down. Rublev was a single point from trailing a double break when serving at 1-4, 30/40. He went with a surprise first-serve location, and it worked perfectly. For the match, Rublev served 52 per cent of his first serves out wide in the Ad court and 44 per cent down the T. On this hyper-critical point, he went with the secondary pattern down the T, and Rune sliced a forehand return just wide.

The pressure metre suddenly exploded on the slow red clay.

The second crucial moment came with Rune serving at 4-2 in the third set. He double faulted in the net on the first and third point of the game and was broken to 15. The pressure to close the match was clearly affecting the 19-year-old Dane.

Serving at 5-5 in the deciding set, Rune put back-to-back overheads in the net and double faulted again on break point. While Rublev kept his head, and his backhand in the court, Rune was rushing and missing.

Rublev’s returns were also instrumental in his comeback from 1-4 in the deciding set. He only made two return errors while extracting two errors from Rune’s Serve + 1 forehand and backhand groundstroke. Rune, on the other hand, yielded seven return errors (three backhand/four forehand) while forcing just two Serve +1 errors from Rublev.

Rublev seemed to be more under pressure from the baseline throughout the match, but his stats stood tall against Rune from the back of the court when the red clay dust finally settled. Rublev won 51 per cent (60/95) of his baseline points for the match, while Rune was at 46 per cent (57/123).

Rune came to the net slightly more for the match but failed to finish points when it mattered. Rublev won an impressive 78 per cent (14/18) coming forward, while Rune won just 40 percent
(8/20) at net.

The drop shot had worked so well for Rune to the final, but it evaporated in the heat of the match against Rublev. Rune won just 47 percent (7/15) of points in which he used his drop shot in the final, providing another underperforming area that contributed to his defeat.

Rublev’s victory was as much mental as it was physical. He said in his post-match interview that “And today I was at least [thinking], ‘Okay, if you’re going to lose today at least please believe until the end’, and that is what I was trying to do in the third set, hoping that maybe I would have one extra chance to come back or something and in the end I was able to do it.”

Never go away. Never give up. The finish line is full of surprises if you just keep your head.

The latest thrill for two Formula 1 stars was not a white-knuckle trip around a racetrack, but a highly entertaining championship Sunday at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.

Monagesque Charles Leclerc, brother and Formula 2 driver Arthur Leclerc and Frenchman Pierre Gasly were among the stars who watched Andrey Rublev capture his maiden ATP Masters 1000 crown in a thrilling final against Holger Rune.

After the championship clash, the racing stars spent time with Rublev and Rune.

^{Arthur Leclerc, Charles Leclerc, Holger Rune, and Pierre Gasly. Credit: Sébastien Darrasse}
“I’m extremely excited, it’s one of the biggest events of the year here in Monaco,” Charles Leclerc said in a video produced by the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. “I’m really happy to be here. It’s amazing to see such a big sport event here in Monaco and see so many people attending.”

Gasly added: “It’s my first time here in Monte-Carlo for the Masters, definitely excited to be following the final. I love the competition. I love to be able to see greatness in a different environment.”

During the preceding doubles final, Leclerc was on the edge of his seat as he watched countryman Romain Arneodo and Austrian Sam Weissborn compete against fifth seeds Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek. After saving two championship points, the Croatian-American duo sealed a dramatic Match Tie-break.

The emotions 👀

The doubles final had @Charles_Leclerc in his feels 🥺#RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/3CVZkui401

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 16, 2023

After a thrilling week in Monte-Carlo, the ATP Tour continues its clay-court season with events in Barcelona, Banja Luka and Munich.

Carlos Alcaraz headlines the field at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, an ATP 500 event. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic is the top seed at the Srpska Open and Monte-Carlo finalist Holger Rune will try to maintain his momentum at the BMW Open by American Express.

ATPTour.com examines what to watch for at each of the three tournaments.

View Draws: Barcelona | Banja Luka | Munich

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN BARCELONA
1) Alcaraz Defending Champ: Alcaraz returns to the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona-1899, where he captured the title last year. The World No. 2 is 18-2 with two titles (Buenos Aires and Indian Wells) this season. Last year Alcaraz arrived in Barcelona having never won a match at the tournament, but he triumphed in three three-setters en route to the trophy. The 19-year-old will open against Ilya Ivashka or Nuno Borges.

2) Sinner Shining: The third player in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin, Jannik Sinner is playing the best tennis of his career. The Italian has advanced to at least the semi-finals in his past five tournaments (title in Montpellier and finals in Rotterdam and Miami). The 2021 Barcelona semi-finalist will try to make a deeper run this edition, beginning with a match against Diego Schwartzman or Wu YIbing in the second round.

3) Stars To Watch: There are many more players to watch throughout the draw, led by two-time Barcelona finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas, who is the second seed. Estoril champion Casper Ruud, the third seed, will try to continue regaining his momentum after a slow start to the season, and fifth seed Frances Tiafoe begins his European campaign after capturing his first clay-court title in Houston.

4) Spanish Armada: Alcaraz headlines a strong contingent of 11 Spaniards in the main draw. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is the 10th seed and Roberto Bautista Agut is the 13th seed. Bautista Agut could be a third-round opponent for Alcaraz. The tournament’s wild cards went to home favourites Pablo Andujar, Feliciano Lopez, Daniel Rincon and Fernando Verdasco.

5) Loaded Doubles Field: Wesley Koolhof/Neal Skupski and Rajeev Ram/Joe Salisbury are the top two seeds in a loaded field, with the year’s three Masters 1000 champions, Matthew Ebden/Rohan Bopanna (Indian Wells), Santiago Gonzalez/Edouard Roger-Vasselin (Miami) and Ivan Dodig/Austin Krajicek (Monte-Carlo), all unseeded. Tsitsipas (w/ Nicolas Mahut) and Sinner (w/ Alex de Minaur) are also in the field.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN BANJA LUKA
1) Djokovic In Action Again: One week after a tough third-round loss to Lorenzo Musetti in Monte-Carlo, Djokovic will try to regain his momentum in Banja Luka. The World No. 1 is 16-2 this season and has lifted trophies in Adelaide and at the Australian Open. He will face a tough opening test against former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka or #NextGenATP Frenchman Luca Van Assche.

2) Rublev Rising: Second seed Andrey Rublev arrives in Bosnia and Herzegovina high on confidence after winning his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Monte-Carlo. Having earned four of his 13 ATP Tour titles on clay, Rublev will try to add another on the surface to his collection this week. He opens against Hugo Gaston or Juan Pablo Varillas.

3) Wawrinka On Title Hunt: Wawrinka has shown glimpses of his best form in recent weeks, including when he ousted Monte-Carlo champion Holger Rune at Indian Wells. Will this be the week Wawrinka wins his first crown since 2017 in Geneva? The Swiss will face a stern opening challenge against the rapidly rising Van Assche to earn an even more difficult match with top-seeded Djokovic.

4) Monfils Leads Wild Cards: Singles wild cards were awarded to former Top 10 star Gael Monfils, Serbian Hamad Medjedovic (coached by Viktor Troicki) and home favourite Damir Dzumhur. Monfils is trying to return to form after missing more than six months due to a foot injury.

5) Murray/Venus Top Doubles Seeds: Jamie Murray and Michael Venus headline the doubles field. With 46 tour-level doubles crowns between them, they will try secure their second title as a team after triumphing earlier this year in Dallas. Belgians Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen, this season’s Pune and Estoril champions, are the second seeds.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN MUNICH
1) Rune Top Seed: The Danish star Rune reached his second ATP Masters 1000 final in Monte-Carlo and added two more Top 10 wins to his growing resumé in the Principality. The 19-year-old will try to go a step further in Munich, where he triumphed last year on tournament debut. Rune will begin his tournament against Thiago Monteiro or Yannick Hanfmann.

2) Zverev Home Favourite: Third seed Alexander Zverev is a two-time champion in Munich, where he owns a 14-6 record. The German will be making his ninth appearance in the ATP 250 and will try to make a good start against Ugo Humbert or Christopher O’Connell.

3) Fritz On Fire: Second seed Taylor Fritz made a good start to his clay-court season in Monte-Carlo, where he advanced to the semi-finals of a Masters 1000 event for the first time on the surface. The American, already a champion this year in Delray Beach, will attempt to claim his maiden clay-court crown.

4) Thiem’s Time? Dominic Thiem returns to Munich for the first time since 2016, when he reached the final. The Austrian, who is competing in singles and doubles (with Matthias Bachinger) this week, has gained momentum in his quest for top form by reaching the Estoril quarter-finals and defeating former Top 10 star Richard Gasquet in Monte-Carlo.

5) Home Favourites Top Doubles Seeds: German Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz are the top seeds in the doubles draw. They will try to secure their first ATP Tour title together this week. The field is tough, though, with second seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah one of the most consistent duos over the past decade.

Andrey Rublev is a fans’ favourite and has been a fixture inside the world’s Top 10 for more than two years. But it was Sunday on Court Rainier III when he stepped into the sun.

Rublev’s reaction said it all. After hitting an ace to close out his victory against Holger Rune in the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters final, the champion fell to the court and covered his face with his hands. He laid still on the red clay of the Monte-Carlo Country Club, where legends from Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to Bjorn Borg and Ivan Lendl had triumphed. The fifth seed had not only joined them, but became an ATP Masters 1000 titlist for the first time.

“Finally I did it. I did it in Monaco with the really historic tournament. It’s a pleasure to be part of it,” Rublev said. “To win [a] match like this, losing 4-1, Love-30, break point for 5-1, and to be able to come back and to win [the] match is like a fairy tale today.”

^{Photo Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour}
The 25-year-old’s emotions were unmistakable. After embracing Rune and shaking hands with chair umpire Aurelie Tourte, Rublev turned to the crowd to give his thanks. There were tears in his eyes.

After rallying in the third set, it felt like there could have been a twist or two left when Rublev stepped to the baseline to serve for the championship at 6-5 in the final set. It surprised Rublev when he quickly earned a 40/0 lead.

“Before my first match point, I was thinking how weird that it [was] 40-Love, first of all,” Rublev said. “And then I was thinking, ‘Just go for it. Don’t think. Just go for it.’ That’s it.”

Rublev converted his second championship point by delivering his fifth ace of the match and as he enjoyed the moment, the fans showered him with support.

The 13-time ATP Tour champion has quickly become a fans’ favourite, whether from wearing his heart on his sleeve or cracking the fans up with hilarious off-court moments.

“To have this support, it means that for sure I can be a better person and I can work on it and I can improve and to try to share it with others,” Rublev said. “To have this support, I feel really, really grateful, because, I don’t know, it’s not easy to get support in general. To get a good support is really tough.”

With the fans’ support behind him and plenty of success on his resumé — Rublev cracked the Top 5 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in 2021 and qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals each year from 2020-22 — the 25-year-old was waiting for his biggest breakthrough yet.

While some would have been frustrated after losing two Masters 1000 finals as Rublev did in 2021 in Monte-Carlo and Cincinnati, Rublev continued to put the work in. It was fitting he claimed his first title at the level on the same court where he lost his first final two years ago.

“I was thinking that if I do the things right outside the court, practising-wise, I will have chances to win the big titles,” Rublev said. “The thing is I didn’t know when it’s going to happen, this year, last year, two years ago, because I played two finals before. I played [a] couple of times semi-finals, and I couldn’t make it. In the end, [it] happened here.

“I didn’t really expect that I’m going to win the title before [this] week, but then match by match I started to win, and then somehow I ended up winning.”