picture Credit: Twitter/@atptour
Andrey Rublev was at his attacking best on Friday as he registered a stunning 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 win over Rafael Nadal on clay in the Monte Carlo Masters quarterfinals. The sixth-seeded Russian star could have won the match even more convincingly with the Spaniard saving break points at 3-1 down in the second set. However, Nadal found a way to get back into that set and win it eventually but lost the decider.
When you don't play well, you should lose: Nadal
Nadal was broken at the start of the third set by which the 34-year-old was beginning to look tired. That made it all the more easy for the Russian to secure a place in the next round. Speaking after the match, Nadal said that against a top quality opponent like Rublev, if one does not play well, they should lose.
"When you face a great player like him and you don’t play well, you should lose," Nadal said after the match.
"He played great, he played aggressive. Well done to him," he added.
Must be incredibly tough for Rafa: Rublev
Meanwhile, Rublev, who clinched his first win against third-seeded Nadal on his first match point, was brilliant with his powerful forehand shot which Nadal found tough to answer in the match. He said that it would be tough for Rafa to swallow the defeat.
"I don’t even know what to say. I cannot imagine being in the situation of Rafa, knowing that you are the best player on clay," Rublev said.
"I think for him it must be incredibly tough," he further added.
Rublev will be up against Norwegian Casper Ruud in his next match.