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In the wake of Andrey Rublev's Monte-Carlo Masters 2023 win, Stefanos Tsitsipas has owned up to the 'mistake' he made with his remarks about the Russian last year.
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev’s played each other at the 2022 ATP Finals, where the latter registered his fifth win in the duo’s 11-match rivalry. After the loss Tsitsipas made a few unflattering remarks towards Rublev, suggesting that the 25-year-old had a limited skill set.
“I felt like the better player. I could just be much more creative. I don’t even have to say that. I think it’s quite obvious,” the two-time Grand Slam runner-up had said. “He prevailed with what few tools that he has.”
On Sunday, April 16, Andrey Rublev lifted the biggest title of his career at the Monte-Carlo Masters by beating Holger Rune in the final. The World No. 6 thus dethroned Tsitsipas in a way, given that the Greek was the Monte-Carlo Masters champion in 2021 and 2022.
Tsitsipas touched upon Rublev’s victory in a recent interview with Tennis TV, and retracted his previous comments against his colleague.
“Look, I think he’s someone that deserves to win. He’s someone that has sort of fallen under the radar for what he can do,” Tsitsipas said. “He has big weapons as a player. And I’ve made a mistake in the past and I said silly things after a loss that I had recently against him.”
“My mind was completely in another planet," he added. "So, I definitely believe he’s a very strong opponent and he can play against anyone."
"He's strong everywhere" – Stefanos Tsitsipas on Andrey Rublev
Stefanos Tsitsipas continued praising Andrey Rublev and noted that the athlete, whose 13 winner’s trophies consist of nine hardcourt and four clay court titles, is strong on all surfaces.
“The good thing with Rublev, he can play on all surfaces, you know. He’s strong everywhere,” Tsitsipas said.
The 24-year-old also stated that Rublev's ever-improving skillset pushes his fellow competitors to do better.
“That is good to see because, you know, he keeps getting better and he keeps pushing us as well to get better, too,” he said.
Stefanos Tsitsipas is currently on the hunt for his 10th career title at the on-going ATP 500 event in Barcelona, where he has been runner-up twice. The Greek is set to play his opening match against the winner of the clash between Pedro Cachin and Gjis Brouwer.
Meanwhile, Rublev is in pursuit of his 14th career title at the ATP 250 Srpska Open in Banja Luka. The tournament has been organized as a replacement for the Serbia Open, where the 25-year-old is the defending champion.
In his opener, Rublev will play the winner of the encounter between Juan Pablo Varillas and Hugo Gaston.
