Di Minaur suffered a defeat at the hands of Rublev during the Australian Open last month. In a thrilling five-set match, he lost the final set 6-0 to his Russian opponent. However, he managed to exact sweet revenge on Rublev in Rotterdam, as he triumphed in a highly competitive contest with a score of 7-6(5) 4-6 6-3.
De Minaur acknowledged the need to be brave and take initiative against Andrey Rublev. Recognizing Rublev’s power and numerous weapons, he understood that simply running around the court would not be effective. To counter his opponent, De Minaur had to back himself, be aggressive, and hit the ball with more force and flatness than usual. His great performance in crucial moments ultimately led to his victory.
Throughout the match, Rublev’s anger was evident, with outbursts never far from the surface. Frustrated by losing the first set, he expressed his annoyance through screams. He even smashed his racket into his knee, causing him to bleed. In the final game, he received a code violation for shouting obscenities in frustration. These incidents shed light on Rublev’s ongoing struggle with anger issues, which he discussed in an exclusive interview.
Rublev admitted that he works on managing his anger daily, practicing techniques to remain calm when he feels like exploding. He also mentioned that his coach provides him with psychology lessons to help him in this aspect. Rublev acknowledged that his emotions have cost him matches in the past, making it even more challenging to perform at his best. He recognizes the importance of a clear mind in order to excel but admits that his emotions often hinder him. Despite knowing that he needs to work on it, he acknowledges that it is not an easy task.
Last year, tennis player Nick Kyrgios, who is known for his own emotional outbursts on the court, offered to help Rublev with his anger issues. Kyrgios suggested that his experience of dealing with similar challenges could assist Rublev in overcoming his demons. Kyrgios advised Rublev to be kinder to himself mentally and to channel his emotions more effectively. He believed that if Rublev could manage his emotions better, he could go beyond the quarter-finals, citing Rublev’s victory in Monte Carlo as a testament to his potential.
Rublev’s quest for major titles continues, but it is unlikely that he will succeed in winning a Grand Slam unless he learns to stay calm under high-pressure situations.
According to the Source tennis365.com