Andrey Rublev rode out a topsy-turvy start to secure a first-round win Tuesday at the Erste Bank Open.
The third seed defeated Alexei Popyrin 7-6(5), 6-4 in Vienna to improve to 10-4 at the ATP 500 event. Rublev led 2-0 and 4-2 in the opening set but he still had to rally from a break down at 4-5 to force a tie-break, which Popyrin at one point led 5/2. The World No. 5 reeled off five straight points to claim the first set, however, before holding firm in the second for a 97-minute triumph.
“I don’t know [how I won the first set],” said Rublev. “I was super lucky, it was my mistake. I was 4-2 up, I had an easy ball and I played it where he was and he passed me. From that moment the match started to change and he was 5-4 up with a break. Somehow I was able to stay there and I was able to turn it around.”
Rublev finished the match having converted four of seven break points he earned. The 26-year-old is a five-time ATP 500 titlist, a tally which includes a title run in Vienna in 2020.
Rublev up and running 💪
2020 champion @AndreyRublev97 gets the better of Popyrin 7-6(5), 6-4@ErsteBankOpen | #erstebankopen pic.twitter.com/O3va2KuTNM
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 24, 2023
Following his win against Popyrin, Rublev is now just one win away from confirming his place at the Nitto ATP Finals. Currently fifth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin, Rublev will seal his spot for the fourth consecutive year at the prestigious season finale by beating Matteo Arnaldi to reach the quarter-finals in Vienna.
“Every match you feel you are one step closer,” said Rublev of his Turin prospects. “Every win, every day. The door is open and I see what is inside, but I am not inside the room yet.”
Following his win against Popyrin, Rublev is now just one win away from confirming his place at the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals. Currently fifth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin, Rublev will seal his spot by beating Matteo Arnaldi to reach the quarter-finals in Vienna.
Seventh seed Frances Tiafoe also advanced after Daniel Evans retired from their first-round clash. Evans had led the American 4-1 in the pair’s third Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting of the season when he aggravated his right calve muscle springing forward to a short ball from the baseline.
Tiafoe will take on Stockholm champion Gael Monfils or Daniel Altmaier next as he looks to keep his outside Nitto ATP Finals chances alive.
Another American Turin hopeful, Tommy Paul, eased to a 6-3, 6-1 triumph against qualifier Alexandre Muller. Paul, who is 12th in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin, will play Aslan Karatsev or Borna Gojo next.