Google News
A former Roland Garros junior champion Andrey Rublev is through to his third Major quarter-final and the first in Paris. Heading to Paris with only one Roland Garros appearance, the Russian continued where he left at the US Open, advancing into the last eight following a hard-fought 6-7, 7-5, 6-4, 7-6 triumph over the Hungarian Marton Fucsovics in three hours and 54 minutes.
Rublev had to give his everything to cross the finish line first, trailing a break down in the opening three sets and fending off set points in the fourth, delivering his best tennis when it mattered the most to seal the deal without having to play a decider.
Rublev had better numbers on both the first and second serve, still facing 16 break chances and repelling 11 to reduce the damage behind the initial shot. On the other hand, he broke Marton seven times from 12 opportunities, staying focused in the most challenging moments to earn one of his hardest victories at Majors that keeps him in contention for the place in the top-10.
Both players had a couple of unforced errors more than winners, with Fucsovics firing over 60 winners and mistakes to keep the points on his racquet, earning his chances but leaving the court empty-handed. Three out of four sets lasted for over an hour, and it was one of the best matches of the tournament so far at Roland Garros.
Andrey came from a break down twice in the opener, reached the tie break and lost it 7-4. Fucsovics grabbed a break in the first game when Rublev sprayed a forehand error, losing the advantage at 3-2 after netting a backhand.
Marton moved in front with another break in game seven, serving for the set at 5-4. Andrey broke at love in the last moment to extend the set, reaching the tie break but losing it 7-4 after a volley winner from the Hungarian.
In set number two, Marton secured a break in game four and opened a 5-2 advantage, serving for the set at 5-3.
Andrey Rublev is through to his first Roland Garros quarter-final.
Like in the opener, the Russian stayed composed to earn a break with a smash winner, gathering momentum and delivering another break at 5-5 following a double fault from Fucsovics.
Rublev held at 30 in game 12 to wrap up the set, leveling the overall score and gathering momentum. Marton moved in front with a break at 2-1 in game three in a familiar pattern, denied by Andrey who pulled it back immediately.
They traded breaks in games seven and eight before Rublev grabbed another one that pushed him in front. Serving at 5-4, Andrey landed an ace to seal the set, forging two sets to love advantage and moving closer to the finish line.
The fourth set offered nine commanding holds on both sides, with three set points on the return for Focsvocis at 5-4. The Russian won five straight points to erase the danger and bring the game home, leveling the score at 5-5 and setting a tie break.
The pressure was on Marton and he couldn't endure it, losing the tie break 7-3 to propel Rublev into his first Roland Garros quarter-final.