Andrey Rublev is a polarising figure amongst the tennis community, with his ferocious outbursts a thing of legend.
Arguably, his temperament is even more infamous than his tennis ability, with the 26-year-old always liable to endure an outrageous meltdown every once in a while.
At times, it can be really tough to watch, but just yesterday his approach towards complaining was far more measured.
Still, he really took issue with a new US Open rule, and let the chair umpire know about it.
Andrey Rublev fumes at US Open rule change
Although the subject matter does seem quite inconsequential for the Russian to complain about, but realistically, we have seen Andrey Rublev blow up for far less throughout his career thus far.
A supremely gifted tennis player with one of the most blistering forehands on tour, as prone as he has been to winning big titles, he has been equally, or even more so likely to explode in a fit of rage.
Rublev was left fuming the the French Open but has apologised for his antics since, but there always seems to be a new frustration, which he is never afraid to vocalise.
This time, in just the first round of the US Open, it’s regarding the towels, with the rule on the matter often changing.
First, due to concerns about hygiene, it was changed so that players would fetch their own towels rather than ball boys and girls being forced to do it for them. Now, it’s back to how it was before.
Rublev, complaining to the chair umpire, claimed: ‘The last five tournaments we play with these new rules we get used to it and now it’s like… in the beginning it was weird to ask [for] towels, now it’s again weird… yeah.
‘[Is it] because it’s a slam? Or [do] they change back? So on the ATP, you can ask [for] towels, but here…They have nothing to do. Instead of thinking about tennis, they focus on these things.’
Andrey Rublev could win the US Open
It’s quite ironic that, even in a pretty routine straight-sets victory, Rublev still found a reason to voice a frustration mid-match.
At this point, it’s almost like a set-in-stone routine that he feels he must follow, and follow it he so often does.
However, if he can lock in throughout this event, which is surprisingly open despite there being a few favourites, there’s no reason why he can’t only surpass his quarter-final hoodoo, but go all the way.
Especially when combing through his results in 2024, which has already seen him beat Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
He has the ability, and now just needs to keep his temperament. This start to the US Open campaign does not look too promising though.
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