Andrey Rublev Smashes Racquet, Exits Wimbledon

Andrey Rublev smashed his racquet on his knee seven times, leaving it bloody and bruised, after losing to Francisco Comesana 6-4 5-7 6-2 7-6(5) at Wimbledon.

What happened?

The incident occurred in the fourth game of the third set, with Comesana breaking Rublev for the second time to take a 4-1 lead. Rublev's reaction sparked concerns about his mental health, a month after his meltdown at the French Open. He admitted to having a similar episode at Roland Garros, saying "I don't remember behaving worse at a Slam ever".

Why it matters for Andrey Rublev

The 26-year-old Russian recorded his worst-ever Wimbledon show, a year after making his first quarters at the grass-court major. Rublev struggled to regain his composure after the incident and failed to fight back. Comesana, world No.122, fired 21 aces in the match and outdid Rublev in the tight fourth set.

What comes next?

Rublev opened up on his meltdown, saying "I would not do it if I was able to hit the racquet on the floor... because we're not allowed to hit them with the grass". He acknowledged that he needs to get to grips with his emotions on court, saying "Of course, I didn't behave today as in Paris, but still I could do much better". The Russian tennis star will look to bounce back from this disappointing exit. Andrey Rublev's ranking will be affected by this early exit, as he was the sixth seed at Wimbledon. The match was interrupted by rain, but Comesana powered through to win. Rublev's composure will be key to his future success, as he looks to improve his mental toughness. The Russian tennis star has shown promise in the past, but his mental health has been a concern.