Raging Rublev Shares Motive for Self-Abuse

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Picture credit score: Francois Nels/Getty

Wimbledon is famend for its all-white rule.

Depart it to Andrey Rublev to show the place black and blue.

A raging Rublev snapped—not precisely a newsflash revelation given his previous main meltdowns—and repeatedly slammed his Head racquet off his proper knee throughout his Wimbledon opening-round loss to Argentinean Francisco Comesana.

Discuss getting hammered: Rublev slammed his stick off his knee seven occasions, by our rely, in the course of the tantrum.

Afterward, Rublev provided a easy clarification for beating the crap out of his knee quite than resorting to his customary play of smashing his racquet to smithereens off the courtroom: It is too pricey to break the distinguished SW19 garden.

“I’d not do it if I used to be capable of hit the racquet on the ground,” Rublev informed the media at Wimbledon. “As a result of we’re not allowed to hit them with the grass.

“I do not know why in that second, I could not take it anymore. I wanted to let feelings out. However thanks, every little thing is ok. Once more, I used to be a bit fortunate.”

Off the courtroom, Rublev is among the most light, well mannered, even-tempered souls on the ATP Tour.

Put him within the stress cooker of Grand Slam competitors, flip up the temperature and sometimes it’s solely a matter of prime earlier than Rublev blows his lid.

The gifted Rublev has but to surpass a Grand Slam quarterfinal in 27 main appearances.

The sixth-seeded Russian has beat himself up up to now.

The truth is, rewind to Roland Garros final month and recall Rublev repeatedly smashed his racquet in opposition to his leg, slammed his stick off the crimson clay in frustration and regarded like a person trapped in a horror film of his personal making.

World No. 35 Matteo Arnaldi rolled Rublev 7-6(8), 6-2, 6-4 to achieve the Roland Garros fourth spherical for the primary time and Rublev misplaced it once more that day.

It was a day to neglect for Andrey Rublev at Roland-Garros 😬💥#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/U0ou2C16Ca

— Eurosport (@eurosport) May 31, 2024

Afterward, Rublev summed up his implosion as sheer self destruction.

“The issue is the pinnacle, that in the present day mainly I kill myself, and that is it,” Rublev informed the media in Paris calling it his worst habits in a serious match.

“I feel it was first time I ever behave that unhealthy. Not a lot to say,” Rublev mentioned after his Paris meltdown.

When self-destruction artist Nick Kyrgios is urging you to tone it down a bit, as ESPN analyst Kyrgios urged needs to be the Russian’s prime precedence, you understand you’ve got received a risky mood.

For those who’re pondering Rublev ought to contemplate sporting physique armor or a minimum of some knee pads to guard his wiry 165-pound body from his violent racquet assaults, he says there is a easier answer.

Rublev shared studying to handle his feelings—and avoiding the urge to beat himself black-and-blue—may be very a lot a piece in progress.

“After all [I want to be under control]. Is the principle drawback that I want to enhance,” Rublev informed the media at Wimbledon earlier than departing. “After all, I did not behave in the present day as in Paris, however nonetheless I might do significantly better. This isn’t the best way.

“After all, it is the principle precedence, to have the opportunity throughout all of the match to be constructive.”