Tennis
Rublev is in top form ahead of the Australian Open. On character, he reached the finals and won over the fans
Andrey Rublev / Photo: © Eurasia Sport Images / Contributor / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru
The Russian tennis player broke down in the first game against the young talent.
Just over a week left until the start of the Australian Open. Now Andrey Rublev is preparing for the first Grand Slam tournament at the ATP tournament in Hong Kong. The Russian made it to the final, not without problems, where he received strong support from the fans.
It’s for this character that the whole world loves Andrei!
“I thought I had no chance”
Many tennis players use the early January tournaments to warm up before the start of the Australian Open after a short winter break. Rublev chose Hong Kong for preparation. This tournament is being held for the first time since 2002. Andrei was accompanied by many star tennis players, for example, compatriot Karen Khachanov and American Francis Tiafoe.
All the matches turned out to be difficult for the Russian, despite the modest opposition. Rublev missed the first round game, but already experienced the first problems in the 1/8 finals. It took the Russian almost two hours to break the resistance of a very mediocre tennis player from Great Britain, Liam Brodie – 6:4; 7:6 (10:8). In the quarterfinals, Andrei fought three sets with the 36th racket of the world, Frenchman Arthur Fils – 6:4; 1:6; 6:2.
Many experts expected an easy victory for Rublev in the match with 18-year-old Chinese Shang Juncheng, who before the tournament in Hong Kong was only 183rd in the ATP rankings. The latest results of the representative of the Celestial Empire caused certain concerns. He knocked out three strong players from the tournament at once: Tiafoe, Laszlo Djere and Botik van de Zandschulp.
In the very first game, it became clear that Rublev would face a difficult test. Shang Juncheng made a break, and Andrey gave vent to his emotions. The Russian was angered by the line judge’s mistake, which had to be corrected using video review.
In the eighth game, Rublev had a chance to make a reverse break, but he missed it. His knee had to take the rap, which was once again hit by the racket. As a result, the first set went to the Chinese player – 6:4. Confused Andrei was already preparing for defeat.
“He’s super talented, powerful and played incredibly.” At some moments I thought I had no chance. He dominated, and I didn’t know what to do,” the ATP website quotes Rublev as saying.
In the second game, Andrey finally pulled himself together, which doesn’t always happen to him. The percentage of wins on his serve increased significantly, but the young Chinese dropped sharply, losing 2:6. In the decisive period, the Russian was again better – 6:3. Thanks to this, he reached the final, where he will meet with Finn Emil Ruusuvuori.
Fighting for fans’ wishes
The fanaticism of Asian fans is well known. After the semi-final, the Russian’s army of loyal fans in Hong Kong is bound to increase. First, Andrey took a group selfie with the spectators in the stands, and then went to win their hearts in the room under the stands.
Fans gathered there who wanted to get an autograph from the Russian star. Many in Rublev’s place would have gone further, but not Andrey. He wanted to thank admirers of the talent for their support. This turned out to be difficult. The Chinese security representative refused to allow the Russian to see the fans. I had to ask for permission for a long time.
The conversation frankly didn’t go well; the language barrier got in the way. Andrei even had to ask the fans to be silent, who were constantly shouting his name. In the end, Rublev still managed to get 10 minutes for an autograph session.
Such caring behavior of the Russian will certainly provide him with significant support in the confrontation with Ruusuvuori. The final will take place on January 7.
Source: Sportbox
I am a sports journalist who has written for a number of Sportish. I have a background in journalism and have been writing since I was young. My main focus is sports news, but I also write about general news. I am currently working as an author at Sportish.
It will take place on January 15 draw main grill Australian Open 2026 in both men’s and women’s singles.
The ceremony will start at 05.00 Kyiv time. The video broadcast will be available on the official Australian Open website and the tournament’s YouTube channel.
The best moments of tennis matches LIVE on the Telegram channel Tennis on Sport.ua
Current major champions Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys will attend the draw ceremony.
They know their opponents Ukrainian tennis players: Elina Svitolina (WTA 12), Marta Kostyuk (WTA 20), Dayana Yastremskaya (WTA 27) and Alexandra Oleynikova (WTA 90).
Svitolina, Kostyuk and Yastremskaya rank 12th, 20th and 26th, respectively. There will be a total of 32 seeded players for both men and women.
US Open main rule matches will begin on January 18 and run through February 1.
Three Ukrainians continue to compete in the Australian Open 2026 qualifiers: Yulia Starodubtseva, Daria Snigur and Angelina Kalinina.
Australian Open 2026 draws. Rivals for Ukrainians. Watch online. LIVE
Video broadcast is available on the Australian Open YouTube channel.
Seeded tennis players and women tennis players:
Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.
Austrian tennis player Sebastian Ofner (ATP 131) suffered a disappointing defeat in the second round of the 2026 Australian Open qualifiers.
In the semi-finals of the selection, the Austrian player lost to the US representative in three sets Nisheshu Basavareddy (ATP 239) in 2 hours 32 minutes. Basavareddy took the victory over Ofner in the third set super tiebreaker.
Sebastian was ahead 7:1 in the super tiebreaker and started celebrating his victory after gaining a point. Sebastian started walking towards the goal and the referee told him the match wasn’t over yet.
As a result, Ofner lost 11:13 and missed two match points: one at 10:9 on the return, the other at 11:10 on serve.
Basavareddy will compete against George Loffagen (Great Britain, ATP 211) in the Australian Open qualifying final.
Australian Open 2026. Qualification
Nisesh Basavareddy (USA) – Sebastian Ofner (Austria) – 4:6, 6:4, 7:6 (13:11)
VIDEO. Winning gesture at 7:1 turned into failure: an epic fiasco at the Aus Open
When your brain calls the match point before the referee… pic.twitter.com/r1i49K1k2V
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 14, 2026
Video review of Nishesh Basavareddy – Sebastian Ofner match
Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.
Tennis
The quarter-final pairings of the WTA 500 in Adelaide and the WTA 250 in Hobart tournaments have been announced.
On January 14, all second round matches in tough tournaments ended WTA 500 in Adelaide And WTA 250 in HobartIt will take place parallel to the Australian Open 2026 qualifying match (Melbourne).
In Adelaide, Dayana Yastremskaya’s felon Katerina Sinyakova lost to Diana Schneider in the second round.
The best moments of tennis matches LIVE on Telegram channel Tennis on Sport.ua
Second-seeded five-hundred Madison Keys knocked out Tereza Valentova, and eighth-seeded Victoria Mboko fought Anna Kalinskaya.
WTA 500 Adelaide. 1/8 final
topnet
🏳️Mirra Andreeva [3] – 
Maria Bouzkova [LL] – 6:3, 6:1
Maya Joynt- Ayla Tomljanovic [WC] – 0:2, RET., Tomljanovic
🏳️Diana Schneider [9] – Katerina Sinyakova [LL] – 6:1, 2:6, 7:5
Yulia Putintseva [Q] – Emma Navarro [6] – 1:6, 4:6
bottom of the network
Marketa Vondrousova – Kimberly Birrell – WO., Birrell
Daria Kasatkina – Jacqueline Christian [Q] – 4:6, 0:6
Victoria Mboko [8] – 🏳️ Anna Kalinskaya – 6:2, 3:6, 7:6 (8:6)
Teresa Valentova – Madison Keys [2] – 4:6, 1:6
WTA 500 Adelaide. Quarter final matches
topnet
🏳️Mirra Andreeva [3] – Ayla Tomljanovic [WC]
🏳️Diana Schneider [9] – Emma Navarro [6]
bottom of the network
Kimberly Birrell- Jacqueline Christian [Q]
Victoria Mboko [8] – Madison Keys [2]
Video review of match day in Adelaide
In Hobart, top seed Emma Raducanu advanced to the quarter-finals without a fight – Magdalena French withdrew from her second round match.
Olga Danilovich, who defeated McCartney Kessler and advanced to the second place, also defeated Peyton Stearns in the 1/8 final.
Third-seeded Iva Jovic crushes her opponents: The young American first gave up just one game to Janice Tjen and then defeated Renata Sarasua with scores of 6:1, 6:2. Her next opponent will be Magda Linette.
WTA 250 Hobart. 1/8 final
topnet
Emma Raducanu [1] – Magdalena French – WO., Raducanu
Rebecca Shramkova – Talia Preston [WC] – 4:6, 1:6
Iva Jovic [3] – Renata Sarasua [Q] – 6:1, 6:2
Wang Xinyu- Magda Linette [8] – 1:6, 5:7
bottom of the network
Tatyana Maria [6] – Anna Bondar – 6:7 (7:9), 5:7
Elisabetta Cocciaretto [Q] – Ann Lee [4] – 1:6, 7:5, 7:5
Antonia Ruzic – Solana Sierra – 7:5, 6:4
Peyton Stearns- Olga Danilovich – 6:7 (2:7), 1:6
WTA 250 Hobart. Quarter final matches
topnet
Emma Raducanu [1] – Talia Preston [WC]
Iva Jovic [3] – Magda Linette [8]
bottom of the network
Anna Bondar- Elisabetta Cocciaretto [Q]
Antonia Ruzic – Olga Danilovich
Video review of match day in Hobart
Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.
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