Australian Open: Rublev won the match with Rooney

Andrey Rublev qualified for the quarterfinals of the Australian Open with a great win over Holger Rune in the 5th set match tiebreak.

The Russian saved two of his opponent’s match points and prevailed after a terrifying 3 hours and 36 minutes 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (9) of the 19-year-old Dane and returns to the quarter-finals of the first Grand Slam of the season for the second time in his career (2021).

Rublev, No. 5 on the board, came back from 2-5 games in the deciding set and from 0-5 in the match tiebreak, punishing the passivity and nervousness Roone displayed on the many opportunities he had in the game.

The end of the game was exciting as Rooney saved two match points from Rublev at 9-7 (the second with a stunning pass) and Rublev won the game with a very lucky return stroke that found the net and slowly and agonizingly landed in the side of the danes

“In the match tiebreak I was 0:5 behind, in the 5th set 2:5. It’s the first time I’ve won a match like this in adverse conditions. It’s a special tournament. I will remember what happened today for the rest of my life. I still can’t believe it,” Rublev said in his court interview.

In both the 4th and 5th set, Rooney failed to serve to win and in the 4th he equalized to make it 2-2 with a break on Rublev’s serve, but this wasn’t possible in the deciding set.

The Dane led 5-2 games, lost his serve in the 9th game (5-4), had two match points at 5-6, led 5-0 points in the match tiebreak, but was brave and defensively oriented, making the more experienced and more aggressive Rublev can “steal” the match.

At the “8” in Melbourne, Rublev awaits the winner of the match Djokovic-De Minor (10:00 GR).

SOURCE: TENNIS24