Andrey Rublev moved in Monte Carlo: “It felt like a curse.”

A first time celebrated with great excitement.

Andrey Rublev beat Holger Rune to win the first Masters 1000 of his career in Monte Carlo. A hard-earned success, coming after 2 hours and 36 minutes and three sets (5-7, 6-2, 7-5). But which, above all, ends a real curse for him.

“I don’t know what to say,” Rublev commented warmly, “I’m happy, finally I managed after a hard fight to win one of these Masters 1000. It felt like a curse. I was down 4-1 with a break ball and I thought I couldn’t win anymore. Instead somehow I made it.”

“I was hoping to at least have a small chance. I thought I could make it all the way. In my previous finals I wasn’t ready mentally, I felt like I couldn’t win them,” Rublev admitted. “Instead, this time I told myself that at least I had to believe it all the way. So I managed to come back, and in the end I made it. Now I don’t want to think about it anymore, just rest and take a break from tennis.”