Rublev told how he was able to turn the tide of the final match at the Masters with Rune

Russian tennis player Andrei Rublev said that he was able to return to the game after 1-4 in the third set of the final match of the Masters in Monte Carlo with Holger Rune thanks to the clay surface, which allows you to play real tennis.

Rublev beat Dane Rune 5:7, 6:2, 7:5 in the Masters final in Monte Carlo on Sunday.

– This is the ground, and here it often happens. This is a plus of coverage – here is real tennis: how you think, how you play, how physically hardy you are. Because it often happens on hard, if you lead with a break and serve well, then no matter how physically strong the opponent is, it is much harder to come back. And the ground allows you to realize this opportunity if you move well, if you play correctly, if you are hardy. Because of this, on the ground – real tennis.

I like colder, rainier conditions because the court and balls are much heavier, the balls are more and more viscous – harder to score, make winners, and thus it is easier for me to impose my game – long rallies. And I have an extra speed of blows to show it just at the right moments. When the courts are so viscous, I myself can move better and get balls that I usually don’t get. Because when the sun is shining, everything is much faster – the court is more slippery and it is harder for me to move. And, accordingly, it is easier for opponents to make a blow right through without any effort.

I would say that we have a slightly different style of play. I like to be on the attack in draws, and he likes to break the pace: from the reception, hit with all his might, go to the net, or immediately shorten it, or cut and break the rhythm. He doesn’t like to let his opponent play: Rune tries to take this initiative upon himself, breaking the rally. For example, hit the first ball hard into the corner. That is, this is not a typical aggressive game, for example, like Fritz, who likes to hit, but he does it from the back line – there you have a shootout. It’s a little different here: he can throw a candle and then gouge and go to the net or shorten it right away. Or maybe the first two. That is, he makes shorter rallies without giving the rhythm and not allowing the game to be imposed. But I managed to resist and win,” Rublev told the “Championship”.

For the 25-year-old Russian, this is the 13th ATP trophy, as well as the first victory in the Masters series tournaments.