Andrey Rublev hit one of the craziest shots you'll ever see on his way to the 2023 Wimbledon quarterfinals.
The Russian had never reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals before, and when trying to do it this year, a very difficult opponent stood in his way. Alexander Bublik beat Rublev only once on the ATP Tour, and it was this year when he defeated him on the grass courts in Halle to win the biggest trophy in his career.
A few weeks later, the two met again, this time fighting for a spot in the quarterfinals. After breaking the Halle curse at Wimbledon, Bublik was very confident and it showed. However, Rublev was the better player in the opening two sets.
The Russian led 7-5, 6-3 after the first two sets, but Bublik started his comeback when he won two consecutive tie-breaks 8-6 and 7-5 to force the fifth deciding set. The fans on the Centre Court were entertained as the two delivered a real show, and it was about to get better.
After Rublev broke his opponent's serve in the seventh game of the fifth set, with the only break point in the set, he had only one task to book his first quarterfinals at Wimbledon, serve out the match.
Although he did that quite comfortably in the eighth game, Bublik applied some pressure two games later, knowing it's his last chance to stay in the match. He pushed Rublev to the limit, but the seventh seed refused to go lose his lead without trying everything possible.
Well, at 30-15, that included an incredible diving forehand to save an incredible backhand from Bublik down-the-line that seemed like a clear winner. However, Rublev dove to catch the ball and put it back into the court, hitting a winner.
Bublik couldn't believe it and neither did the crowd as the shot proved to be crucial in Rublev's win 7-5, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-7(5), 6-4. Humble as always, the maiden quarterfinalist in the All England Club refused to take any extra credit for the shot when he was asked about it after the match.
"Probably, it was the most lucky shot ever. I don't know, it was luck, nothing else. I don't think I can do it one more itme."
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