Everything's coming up titles as Andrey Rublev captures 5th title this year in Vienna

     The Vienna Open is his fifth ATP title this year, but Andrey Rublev attributes his continuous winning strategies to not sweating the small stuff and keeping on a direct path to success. He had mentioned to the ATP media that "I came here thinking that I have nothing to lose." As he landed in Vienna he had already held up the winner's trophy to four tournaments. The Russian was nearly stunned at how his success was going in the most trying times not only in the world, but on the 2020 tennis tour.

The Pandemic had closed up the season for nearly six months.

Players, coaches and the tennis community scrambled to gain some normalcy on practicing and playing.

     The beginning of the year went well for the former NextGen ATP guy who captured his first title of the year at the Qatar Open as he never dropped a set the entire tournament. He defeated Corentin Moutet for the crown. It was Rublev's third title in his career and guaranteed him cracking the top 20 on tour. "It's amazing. For the moment I have no words...there's still much to work on, but I'm happy to become a top-20 player," he said feeling enthused. But Rublev didn't realize that his tactics and luck would continue. It was at Adelaide, a warm-up event for the Australian Open that he sizzled and gathered another title this time from Lloyd Harris. The South African blasted 8 aces in the final match but still couldn't break down Rublev's game. The Russian gave him a bagel in the last set but was the first player in over a dozen years to win back-to-back titles in the first few weeks of any season. In Australia, Rublev was defeated by Alexander Zverev in the fourth round but the Russian mentally was happy about winning his two titles already.

     The world health crisis mentally and physically left all players puzzled as to how and when their next tournament would come. It would be in August that the Cincinnati Masters and the U.S. Open were played. Rublev felt the strain and didn't fare well on either as his rhythm and balance were compromised. It took three tournaments later for him to gain success again and did it at the German Open defying Stefanos Tsitsipas in three sets despite the Greek hitting 11 aces. Rublev's title in Hamburg was the lucky three and he was totally amazed how he was coming up on top of his game and ATP rankings. The St. Petersburg Open proved utmost success for he not only faced another win and title over Borna Coric but the loss of his grandmother which emotionally put him over the top but knew she'd want him to continue his quest for victory.

     Playing the Vienna Open for the curly-haired Rublev was relaxing for he'd gathered more titles than most in a very unnerving season; any accomplishment would be considered fine. The young Russian did more than well and played a perfect tournament not dropping a set. There were two walkovers, one with Jannik Sinner and Kevin Anderson but that didn't deter the spirit and feisty Rublev who uncoiled his strategies out on Italy's Lorenzo Sonego. The Russian and Sonego tied with 6 aces, the difference being in the Rublev's charge to the net on most opportunities took away Sonego's rhythm. The Italian gave it all he had but Rublev would make him hit one more ball and then put it away outright for a winner. 

     The 5th title Rublev thought was the charm and also he'd have good news on qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals in London. He says to the Tennis.com media that "I'm happy that I will compete in London for the first time." But he admits that he has more to improve. It's debated if he was being modest or not because he's topped even Novak Djokovic on titles won this year already and the season's not over yet.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2JsmCtn