Rublev Up & Running In Banja Luka

Fresh off his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Monte-Carlo last week, Andrey Rublev continued where he left off at the Srpska Open on Thursday when he defeated Juan Pablo Varillas 6-2, 6-2 in his opening match in Banja Luka.

The second seed opened his shoulders and dictated play at the ATP 250 clay-court event, overpowering the Peruvian with his destructive forehand to earn his sixth consecutive win in 70 minutes.

Rublev now holds a 19-8 record on the year and will next meet Damir Dzumhur in the quarter-finals after the 30-year-old clawed past Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(3).

Rublev arrives in Bosnia and Herzegovina off the back of winning the biggest title of his career in Monte-Carlo. The 25-year-old defeated seeds Karen Khachanov, Taylor Fritz and Holger Rune to clinch his 13th tour-level crown in the Principality.

Rublev is currently fifth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin and could climb to fourth if he lifts his second trophy of the season in Banja Luka, where Novak Djokovic is the top seed.

In other action, Dusan Lajovic beat Gregoire Barrere 6-3, 6-0, while Miomir Kecmanovic ended Abedallah Shelbayh’s run, overcoming the Jordan qualifier 6-4, 7-6(3).