Andrey Rublev digs deep to survive Nordea Open thriller

Andrey Rublev digs deep to survive Nordea Open thriller

Andrey Rublev needed every ounce of his experience to escape a scare at the Nordea Open on Tuesday. The Russian third seed dropped the opening set before rallying past a bold wildcard to set up a quarter-final date with Jannik Sinner.

The match stretched past two hours on the outdoor clay in Båstad. Rublev, ranked No. 3 in the world, started flat and lost the first set 6-4. A break in the seventh game of the second set swung momentum his way, and he closed it 6-3. The decider stayed tight until Rublev broke at 4-4 and served it out at 5-4.

What happened in the first set?

Rublev’s serve deserted him early. He missed five of his first six first serves in the opener and couldn’t convert any of his three break chances. The wildcard, ranked outside the top 200, pounced on every loose ball and pocketed the set in 42 minutes.

The crowd roared as the underdog held his nerve. A double fault at 4-4 handed the wildcard the break, and he closed the set with a backhand winner down the line.

How did Rublev turn it around?

A serve-and-volley at 15-40 in the second set jolted Rublev back to life. He held at love, then broke in the next game when the wildcard netted a backhand. From 3-3 down in the second, he reeled off six straight games.

The Russian’s forehand started finding the lines. He landed 65% of first serves in the decider and saved three break points in the fourth game. A 124 mph ace on championship point sealed the win at 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

Why it matters for Andrey Rublev

The scare exposed rust on clay, Rublev’s least favorite surface. He arrived in Båstad with a 10-12 record on dirt this year and had already skipped the French Open to rest his legs.

Still, the win keeps him on track for a top-eight seed at Wimbledon. The quarter-final spot also lifts his ATP Race points above 4,000 for the first time since Roland Garros.

Rublev will face Jannik Sinner in the last eight. The Italian, fresh off a Halle title, has beaten Rublev in their last two meetings on grass and clay. A quick turnaround means Rublev will have less than 24 hours to recover.

What comes next?

Rublev’s camp plans to treat the indoor session as a recovery block. Physio work starts Wednesday, with light hitting scheduled for Thursday. The quarter-final is Friday, weather permitting.

If he advances, Rublev could face either Casper Ruud or Arthur Fils. Both men bring heavy topspin from the baseline, a style that has troubled Rublev on clay before.

The Russian insists he’s fine. “I’m happy to be through,” he said after the match. “I know I can play better, but the important thing is I’m still in the tournament.”