Andrey Rublev wins title in Dubai after plea for peace
An emotional Andrey Rublev said he will sleep for two days after securing his third trophy in seven days by ending the dream run of Czech qualifier Jiri Vesely with a 6-3, 6-4 victory in the Dubai final on Saturday.
OUR SINGLES CHAMPION – ANDREY RUBLEV! π€©π€©π€©πΎπ₯@AndreyRublev97 ππΌ#DDFTennis #ATP @ATPTour pic.twitter.com/lIKcDg8Es1
— Dubai Tennis Champs (@DDFTennis) February 26, 2022
2013: Djokovic
2014: Federer
2015: Federer
2016: Wawrinka
2017: Murray
2018: Bautista Agut
2019: Federer
2020: Djokovic
2021: Karatsev
2022: Rublev10 years of #DDFTennis champs π @AndreyRublev97 pic.twitter.com/RkI3r9837t
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 26, 2022
The second-seeded Russian won the singles and doubles titles in Marseille last Sunday before flying to the Emirates and clawing his way to a 10th career singles crown, and a fifth at the ATP 500 level.
Two weeks. Three trophies. Tenth career title. Fifth ATP 500 title.@AndreyRublev97 is your Dubai champion π@DDFTennis | #DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/4lusJ3Gi5S
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 26, 2022
“For sure for the next two days I will sleep, I won’t leave my bed,” said Rublev, whose plea for peace in Ukraine after his win the previous night went viral across news stations worldwide.
Time to rest now π @AndreyRublev97 | @DDFTennis | #DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/wGLq9kFbGG
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 26, 2022
“Finally I can rest for maybe one week now. I feel super happy, even though maybe I’m tired.
"When you beat these kinds of players, it's impossible to walk or stand up!"@AndreyRublev97 full of praise for opponent @jiri_vesely 's superhuman effort in Dubai this week πͺ pic.twitter.com/p8cIzDusjH
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 26, 2022
“I think I was lucky today that Jiri also was super tired. He had really tough matches since qualies, three sets, he beat top players starting from the first round, so I was super lucky that he couldn’t perform the way he can.
“I was lucky today and that’s why I’m happy to be the champion, I didn’t expect this. It’s an amazing feeling.”
Highlights of our magical trophy ceremony! ππ#DDFTennis #ATP @ATPTour pic.twitter.com/dEvVZyDYMH
— Dubai Tennis Champs (@DDFTennis) February 26, 2022
Rublev entered the Dubai final having contested 17 matches β- across singles and doubles β- in three weeks, 12 of which were three-setters.
The world number seven has been running on fumes all week and had to rally back from a set down in three of his five matches.
Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev signs 'no war please' on a camera following his win at the Dubai Tennis Championships ππ pic.twitter.com/zVUbT89vIx
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 26, 2022
World number 123 Vesely is the lowest-ranked finalist in the Dubai tournament’s 30-year history.