Rublev matches Djokovic’s haul of 4 titles
ST PETERSBURG: Andrey Rublev went level with Novak Djokovic as a four-time title winner in 2020 when he defeated Borna Coric 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 to claim the St Petersburg Open on Sunday despite suffering a family bereavement just 48 hours earlier.
The 22-year-old Rublev added the title in Russia to trophies in Doha, Adelaide and Hamburg.
Only world No.1 Djokovic can boast a similar haul from the truncated season.
However, Rublev then revealed his private heartache.
“On Friday, I lost my grandmother so it was really tough,” he said.
“But I am happy that this is the way I finished the tournament and it is a really special tournament for me.”
Rublev extended his winning streak to 10 matches on home soil, having lifted the Kremlin Cup trophy in Moscow last year.
The world No.10 also boosted his hopes of reaching the ATP Finals for the first time.
With just two places left in the eightman field for the London season finale, Rublev is 249 points ahead of Diego Schwartzman, who currently occupies the final qualification position.
“I know I have a really good chance to qualify, but still it is not 100 per cent yet,” Rublev said. “This year, I didn’t expect that I would have a chance, so in the end nothing is going to change for me. Even if I don’t make it, the season was really good for me anyway.”
ZVEREV TAKES COLOGNE CROWN
US Open runner-up Alexander Zverev clinched the Cologne ATP title on Sunday beating Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3.
The German world No.7 claimed his third ATP Tour win on home soil as third seed Auger-Aliassime lost his sixth successive final.
“Felix, you’re an unbelievable player. I know it doesn’t mean much right now, but I’m sure you are not only going to win one title, you’re going to win multiple, multiple titles in your career, bigger titles than this.” said Zverev.
Auger-Aliassime, 20, said: “I just played bad from start to finish.”