Andrey Rublev already holds the record for most men’s singles Grand Slam quarterfinals reached without ever advancing to the semis.
He will get a chance to end that ignominious distinction when he plays in another slam quarterfinal at the U.S. Open on Wednesday.
Rublev advanced to the last eight in New York after defeating Jack Draper 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and 44 minutes on Monday afternoon. The world No. 8 struck 14 aces compared to just two double-faults and broke Draper four times while improving to 3-0 lifetime in the head-to-head series.
In the quarters Rublev will try to finally halt his losing streak at this stage of majors, which stands at 0-8. The 25-year-old broke the record with eight consecutive quarterfinal losses without a semifinal berth this summer at Wimbledon. He had previously been tied with Tommy Robredo at 0-7. Both of Rublev’s quarterfinal losses this season have come against Novak Djokovic (Australian Open and Wimbledon). He is 0-3 all time in the U.S. Open quarters, with losses in 2017, 2020, and 2022.
Fellow Russian Daniil Medvedev, who issued that 2020 defeat in New York, once again stands in Rublev’s way of the last four. For one day, at least, their friendship (Rublev is the godfather of Medvedev’s child) will have to be set aside.
“We’re really close friends,” Medvedev assured. “I think we have great relationship. Even if on the court we’re big competitors, I think nothing is going to come between us to separate us in real life. We’re really close. I mean, we share a lot of let’s call it interests and stuff like this. It’s great to have someone like this on tour because sometimes can be not easy. You travel, travel, travel. To have a friend like this is great.
“But, again, on the court we both want to win. We not going to be friends in two days.”
[yop_poll id=”552″]
nice one, Andrey
No way Andrey tames Daniil.
Andrey is in 5 to the SF!
I would not bet on it. I’m just a fan of Rublev’s
would be epic