Andrey Rublev says he is keeping his expectations low for the upcoming ATP Finals in the hope that it will relieve the pressure he will face at the event.
The world No.5 is aiming to end his season on a high following what has been a solid year for the Russian who claimed his first Masters 1000 title at the Monte Carlo Open in April. Rublev also won the Bastad Open and was runner-up at four other tournaments in 2023. At the Grand Slams, he reached the quarter-finals at three out of four played with the only exception being the French Open where he lost in the third round.
Rublev now has a chance to claim the biggest title of his career in Turin next week which features the eight highest-ranked players on the men’s Tour. So far this year, he has won just five out of 12 matches played against top 10 opposition. Hoping to produce some more high-profile wins at the ATP Finals, he says the key is to keep his expectations low.
“It kind of takes out the pressure,” atptour.com quoted Rublev as saying. “Of course, if I play [Djokovic or Alcaraz], I will do my best to try to compete against them and to have a chance to try to win it. But it’s super tough, and they’re better than me and they show it already for many years. So we’ll see. For this I need to really, really to play my best tennis.”
This year will be the fourth time Rublev has played at the ATP Finals. 12 months ago he produced his best run at the tournament so far by reaching the semi-finals before losing to Casper Ruud. In 2020 and 2021 he was knocked out in the group stages after winning just one out of three matches played.
“It was a great moment to be in the semi-finals at one of the best tournaments of tennis,” said Rublev who currently has a total win-loss record of 4-6 at the event. “To be part of it was special. I remember when I won, the emotions were crazy.”
Despite that success, the 26-year-old is keeping grounded about his chances of producing another deep run in Turin.
“It’s not going to happen often. Of course I will do everything to be able to feel this emotion again. But we’ll see.” He commented.
“There is all the best players. Everyone wants to win and everyone is playing unreal.”.
Rublev is one of two Russian men who has qualified for this year’s ATP Finals along with Daniil Medvedev. He has already won 56 matches in 2023 which is the most he has ever won in a single season on a Tour.
The ATP Finals will begin on Sunday. Novak Djokovic is the defending champion.
