Andrey Rublev launches Dubai title defense after getting "crazy things" out of his head

Andrey Rublev’s title defense didn’t get off to the most encouraging start in Dubai Monday when his opponent came out blazing. With a little pep talk to himself, the world No. 6 settled in to advance past Filip Krajinovic, 7-5, 6-2, leveling their head-to-head series at three wins apiece.

The first two games took 14 minutes, and it was Krajinovic who broke for 2-0 with a potent inside-in forehand return winner. He stretched the lead to 5-2, as both players battled to gain control of the court in a series of powerful baseline exchanges.

“Crazy things was in my head,” Rublev admitted in his on-court interview. “Filip is one of my good friends and we always have tough battles. Last time he beat me quite easy and I had no chances against him. So today I was going on court thinking that it was going to be a really tough match, and when he started the way he start, I didn’t know what to do because he was playing so good.”

After holding to force Krajinovic to try and serve out the first set, Rublev went to work. A deep backhand return set up a pair of break points and the 25-year-old converted on his first chance. A trademark inside-out forehand winner was followed up with an even more fiery “come on” from Rublev.

From there, the clash was played on his terms, as Rublev claimed 11 of the next 13 games. The second seed sealed the 88-minute victory when Krajinovic’s return sailed long.

“Somehow I calmed myself and said, ‘OK, restart at the bottom and raise the level.’ I started to play much, much better,” said Rublev. “I was able to turn the match around and finish the match in a good way.”

Rublev’s final stat sheet included 29 winners (eight aces), 26 unforced errors and four breaks of serve from six opportunities. In the second round, he’ll meet Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who dismissed Malek Jaziri, 6-2, 6-0, in the Tunisian’s farewell match on the ATP Tour. Rublev won their lone prior meeting in the second round of the 2020 French Open.

Later Monday, seventh seed Alexander Zverev battled past Jiri Lehecka, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, firing 12 aces. Zverev, now 4-6 on the year, is looking to win back-to-back matches for the first time in 2023.