Andrey Rublev’s latest on-court outburst at the Paris Masters was difficult to witness, as he ended up hurting himself.
In his opening match in Paris, Rublev had a lot riding on the outcome because he’s fighting to secure a spot in the ATP Finals. Currently, he’s clinging to the eighth and final spot for Turin, but his hopes took a hit when Francisco Cerundolo defeated him 6-7, 6-7.
The same day saw Tommy Paul lose too, which helped Taylor Fritz qualify for the ATP Finals. Paul’s loss also indirectly benefited Rublev by ending Paul’s chances of qualifying. However, if Alex de Minaur makes it to the quarterfinals in Paris with two more wins , he could surpass Rublev in the standings.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇷🇺 Andrey Rublev | 27 | 4,710 | 24 - 10 |
Pressure Mounts for ATP Finals
Grigor Dimitrov and Stefanos Tsitsipas also have slim chances of overtaking Rublev. Tsitsipas is already advancing after victories over Roberto Carballes Baena and Alejandro Tabilo.
Adding to his stress is what happened post-US Open when Rublev almost faced losing a testicle during surgery. Since then, his performance hasn’t matched his usual high standards. Fans might wonder if these personal challenges are affecting him on court.
Despite wanting to change his fiery demeanor on court, there’s little evidence of improvement from Rublev over time. His recent behavior at Paris Masters was shocking even by his standards—he injured himself during an intense match at this year’s last Masters 1000 event.
During one moment captured on video, he repeatedly struck his knee with his racket while still having a chance to turn things around as it was tied at 6-7 and 1-1. But these meltdowns often happen when matches are close; cameras caught blood trickling down from where he’d hit himself.
While passion isn’t inherently bad in sports, such actions set a poor example for young fans watching tennis enthusiasts might think about whether professional help is needed before things worsen further for him.
What do you think about players showing such intense emotions?
