“There were moments of joy today”: Andrey Rublev reassures himself at the Open Occitanie and qualifies for the quarter-finals in Montpellier

The Russian has quietly started at the Open Occitanie. Midi Libre – Giacomo Italiano

Andrey Rublev (9th in the world) assumed his status as the No. 1 seed at the Open Occitanie by easily beating the American Christopher Eubanks (6-4, 6-3) to qualify for the quarter-finals on Wednesday, January 29. 

For his return to Montpellier with the status of No. 1 seed, Andrey Rublev (9th in the world) reassured himself. Having fallen twice in the first rounds of the ATP250 in Hong Kong and the Australian Open, the Russian has comfortably qualified for the quarter-finals.

By beating the American with a one-handed backhand, Christopher Eubanks (111th), in two sets (6-4, 6-3) in barely an hour of play. Enough to reassure himself about his level of play?

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“We'll see, but there were definitely moments of joy today,” he replied in a press conference. It's a good feeling to win a match, especially when you do it the right way. I haven't felt that since the beginning of the year.”

“I just want to be balanced with myself”

A last-minute invitee to the tournament after his defeat Down Under, Rublev is coming off a season that was more than complicated mentally. With several meltdowns in the middle of a match, where he hit himself several times. This year's goal will therefore necessarily involve stability under the red and Russian hair.

“I just want to be disciplined and in balance with myself, he said when talking about his plans for 2025. If I'm able to do it, it should work.”

If he sticks to his plan, he will logically be a candidate for the final victory at the Open Occitanie. Before that, he will meet the winner of the match between the Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech and the Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili.