Author: Chandra Moulee Das
Andrey Rublev won his first ATP Masters 1000 title after beating Holger Rune 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 in the final of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters on Sunday. The match featured two of the most prominent players on the ATP Tour, but it was the fifth seed who emerged victorious on a sunny Rainier III Court.
Throughout the match, Rublev hit 33 balls and recovered from a 1-4 deficit in the third set to secure the 13th and most important title of his career. He clinched victory in the fifth set and fell to the ground to celebrate. The entire match lasted two hours and thirty-four minutes.
After his victory, Rublev said: “I’m in tears. I don’t know what to say to be honest. I don’t know. I’m happy, finally. [Tenho] I fought so hard to win this damn Masters 1000. Finally losing 4-1, saving break points, thinking there’s no chance of winning, and somehow I managed it.“
After securing his 18th tour-level win of the season, Rublev’s record in ATP Masters 1000 finals improved to 1-2. In 2021, he suffered defeats against Stefanos Tsitsipas in Monte-Carlo and Alexander Zverev in Cincinnati.
In the semi-finals, Rublev managed to overcome Taylor Fritz to claim his first tour-level title of the season. As a result, he climbed seven places to fifth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old Rune was hoping to win his second ATP Masters 1000 crown. The Dane had already beaten five Top 10 opponents on his way to the title in Paris last year. Despite being the first teenager to reach the final in Monte-Carlo since Rafael Nadal’s victory in 2006, Rune fell short of Rublev.
The Dane, who has a record of 17 wins and 8 losses this season, will now take part in the ATP 250 event in Munich, where he is the defending champion. After his run to his first final of the year, Rune climbed two places to 7th in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings.