Russian tennis star Andrey Rublev said he was “happy and grateful” after winning the inaugural Gijon Open.
On Sunday, Rublev ousted rising American star Sebastian Korda 6-2 6-3 to reach his fourth title of the season.
En route to winning the inaugural Gijon Open, Rublev dropped just one set.
āI am really happy and really grateful. To win a title is always a special feeling because all the players are working to win a title and play the best tournaments. To win one more title here in my career is really important for me. All the weeks are important for me because I am fighting for the [Nitto ATP] Finals,” Rublev said, per the ATP website.
Rublev sets his eyes on the ATP Finals
Rublev is currently sixth-ranked player on the Race to Turin.
As it stands now, Rublev will be competing at the prestigious season-ending event for a third consecutive year.
āIt would be a really amazing feeling [to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals] because this is the tournament players are dreaming of playing. To qualify for three years in a row will be really important for me,” Rublev added.
On Sunday, Rublev made another positive step toward making the ATP Finals.
In the Gijon final, Rublev made a quick start as he earned the first break of the match in the fourth game to open a 3-1 lead.
Down by a break – Korda had a break point in the seventh game – but didn’t realize as Rublev surviving a tough game to take a 5-2 lead.
In the eighth game – when Korda was serving to stay in the first set – Rublev broke the American for the second time to win the opener.
After winning the first set, Rublev saved a break point in the fifth game of the second set and broke Korda in the sixth game to open a 4-2 lead.
Up by a set and a break, Rublev held on to his serve the rest of the match to complete a straight-set victory.
After Gijon, Rublev is taking a short rest and is not competing this week.