'Not Acceptable': Rublev Critical Of His Behavior In Heated Match Against Rune

Monday, 18 December 2023 at 04:15

byErik Virostko

Andrey Rublev was very angry during his semifinal match at the 2023 Ultimate Tennis Showdown Grand Final, and he called his behaviour unacceptable after the match.

During a high-stakes matches, tennis players get emotional, and that's what happened at the 2023 UTS Grand Final in London, when Andrey "Rublo" Rublev battled against Holger "The Viking" Rune for a spot in the final.

During the second quarter of the match, the Russian player wanted to activate his "next points counts x3" card, but the umpire seemingly didn't see him, and did not activate his card, but his opponent's card.

As a result, Rublev got only one point instead of three for winning the following rally, and after he found out a couple of rallies later, he got really mad about it, arguing with the umpire, and later also with the match referee.

Rublev went on to lose the match in three quarters, and he was really disappointed about what happened on the tennis court. After the match, he tried to explain his point of view when talking to the reporters.

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"It is what it is. The moment was very emotional and of course I should maybe react a bit different but I was just a bit disappointed. When you run for every point, long rallies, a very intense match, the heart rate is very high and then this situation happens, you feel very disappointed and [like] all your work was for nothing."

Rublev knew that what happened on the court from his side was not acceptable, and he was not afraid to say it that way. The Russian can reflect on his behaviour really well, but sometimes struggles to control it in the heat of the moment.

"And I reacted not acceptable and then what happened, happened. That was the situation and the only thing I was asking was just, if he was the first one [to request to use the card] I am okay but just check the replay, that’s the only thing I was checking. Because it’s an exhibiton, no one cares, I was just asking will you check a replay and then you see if he was first."