Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev has won his first-ever Masters 1000 crown in Monte Carlo, defeating Holger Rune in a thrilling three-set match that lasted two hours and 34 minutes. The victory marks a significant achievement for Rublev, who put in a commanding performance to overcome his opponent.
Rune had a chance to claim his second Masters 1000 trophy and was leading 4-1 in the decider before losing his focus, missing opportunities and squandering a break chance in game six. Rublev capitalized on the opportunity and broke his rival twice to win the set and claim the championship.
Throughout the match, Rublev displayed an impressive array of strokes, hitting 30 winners and 23 unforced errors, while Rune struggled with 50 unforced errors, losing his focus in the pivotal moments of the match.
Rublev’s performance saw him excel behind the second serve and break his opponent four times from eight chances. Meanwhile, Rune hit nine double faults and played against 19 break points, losing serve six times and allowing Rublev to emerge victorious.
In the first set, Rune took an early lead, but Rublev managed to equalize before ultimately losing serve in the 12th game to hand the opener to Rune. However, Rublev came back stronger in the second set, with both players trading early breaks before Rublev took control and won the set 6-2.
The third set saw Rune take an early lead, securing a break in game two that pushed him 3-0 in front. However, Rublev fought back and denied his opponent a crucial break in game six before breaking back to level the score at 5-5. Rune’s hopes of winning the title were dashed in the final game, where he lost his focus, made several mistakes, and hit a double fault, allowing Rublev to serve for the match.
Rublev showed his class, landing an ace to secure his first-ever Masters 1000 title and mark his place as one of the most exciting young players in the sport. The win will undoubtedly give him a boost of confidence as he looks to make his mark on the upcoming tournaments.