Andrey Rublev reacts to ousting Sebastian Korda for inaugural Gijon Open title

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.

“I 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.

“It 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.