Adelaide International final: Andrey Rublev cruises past Lloyd Harris
Andrey Rublev’s year just keeps getting better with the Russian clinching his second ATP title in two weeks and with it the freedom to attack the Australian Open.
Tennis
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tennis. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Winning the inaugural Adelaide International and extending his winning streak to 12 matches has taken all the burden off heading to the Australian Open Andrey Rublev says.
Remarkably the Russian picked up his second ATP tour title of 2020 — he won in Doha last week — by seeing off the South African qualifier Lloyd Harris 6-3, 6-0 in just 56 minutes.
“I go to Melbourne completely free,” said Rublev who feels the dual trophy haul exceeded perhaps his previous career high.
Watch over 50 sports LIVE on Kayo! Stream to your TV, mobile, tablet or computer. Just $25/month, cancel anytime. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
“It was better than beating (Roger) Federer,” at the Cincinnati Masters last year, he said.
His improved consistency and a determination to enhance his mental strength have been key to a whopping start to the year Rublev feels. Physically, and to be expected, he looked a touch jaded by his near three hour marathon that finished just 18 hours earlier but his high tempo blitz paid off in a final that was over almost as soon as it has begun.
The Russian mood was set immediately after he had won the epic semi-final against Felix Auger-Aliassime and headed straight to the media room in the bowels of the Adelaide Oval to face the press.
It was into the early hours of Saturday morning and, dripping wet, he had not changed out of his work clothes. It mattered not.
Hyped up, the adrenaline surging, he gave the two journalists who had hung on a masterclass of a press conference.
“These matches are amazing because after these matches you understand why you are working, what for you’re working, why you need to improve, why you need to,” he set off.
“You break your ass on the practices even when you feel tired to enjoy these moments.
“These moments are special that you’re not gonna feel in basic life, normal life without tennis. This is something you will feel only in this game and at the end of the match. For example, now you just release, you feel amazing because you win the match.”
MORE TENNIS
ENTERTAINING: FAN’S CHEEKY BARTY MARRIAGE PROPOSAL
EPIC BATTLE: RUBLEV WINS THRILLER TO REACH ADELAIDE FINAL
The Adelaide final sadly, will not evoke such emotion for the Russian. Most likely he will have forgotten the detail by midweek, there was so little of consequence before a sellout crowd.
Both men are 22-years-old but Harris at 91 in the world to Rublev’s 18, is in another, and lower, league.
Oddly, Harris served eight aces to Rublev’s four but couldn’t break once, the Russian doing so four times across two sets. While Harris has had a sterling week reaching his ATP final, he was out of his depth against an opponent who will make the world’s top 10 by Wimbledon surely.
Rublev looked shattered post match but then he has done so all week and it has not stopped him from winning.
Aussie Chris O’Connell is up first round against Rublev at the Australian Open. He should be seriously worried.
Originally published as Adelaide International final: Andrey Rublev cruises past Lloyd Harris