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Russian tennis star Andrey Rublev couldn't hide his happiness after winning it all in Rotterdam. Rublev, seeded at No. 3, handed a straight-set defeat to qualifier Marton Fucsovics 7-6 (4) 6-4 in the Rotterdam final. "I feel happy.
It has been a really great week," said Rublev. "It has been a great past year and a half. We will see if I can keep going, if I can keep this level of competing [and] being a Top 10 [player]”. Rublev captured his fourth consecutive title at the ATP 500 level as his last defeat at this level came in Dubai last year.
“I was not even thinking [about the streak] until [the media] were starting to put on the internet 16 matches, 17 matches, 18 matches,” said Rublev. “Of course, it is a great number, but I was not even thinking about it… It is a great feeling to know that I did something that not many players did”.
Rublev insisted Fucsovics was a tough opponent
Rublev failed to convert a set point on Fucsovics' serve in the 12th game but realized his third set point in the tie-break to win a tight opener. The Russian then started the second set with a break and held on to his serve the rest of the set to book a straight-set win.
“It was a tough match, especially in the first set. [It] was really mental," said Rublev. "It was so, so close. Both of us had a lot of chances. [In the] first game, he had a lot of chances then, straight away, I had a lot of chances.
We were so close [throughout] all the set. Even in the tie-break, it was so close until 4/3”. Despite the loss, Fucsovics was happy with his Rotterdam campaign. “It was a very positive week for me. I played unbelievable,” Fucsovics said during the trophy ceremony.
“I came from qualifying. I played a lot of matches… I improved my game, so that is most important for me”.