Rising Russian tennis star Andrey Rublev has opened up on battling depression and losing his grandmother. In an interview with a Russian sports network, the current World Number 8 revealed that the darkest moment in his life came after he won an ATP Tour title at St. Petersburg last year.

Andrey Rublev went into depression after winning Tour title in St. Petersburg

Rublev said that he was depressed even during his championship win in Hamburg.

The two trophies were part of the five Tour titles that he picked up in his breakthrough season last year.

While he won the most number of titles across the men’s and women’s Tours last year, Rublev was also level with Novak Djokovic for the most number of matches won in the calendar year.

Both won recorded 41 wins in 2020, with Djokovic winning a title-less and Rublev losing matches more.

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Rublev says being busy keeps negative thoughts away

Asked whether he still feels depressed, the Russian said that he is too busy to be in that state of mind right now.

He said being busy not helps him focus on his game but also gives a sense of purpose, thereby taking all negative thoughts away.

“It (being busy) gets me recharged. Different activities distract me a lot right now,” the Russian said.

Rublev revealed that the feeling was particularly overbearing during the Hamburg event as it hit him harder for “some reason”.

He also opened up on feeling “lots of anxiety for grandpa and grandma” at the time.

Rublev said the experience of being in a bubble (restricted environment to stay Covid-safe) during tournaments also didn’t help his state of mind. “I only saw hotels and courts,” the Russian said.

On getting word of his grandmother’s death after the win in St. Petersburg, Rublev said it was the “most emotional moment” for him.

Read More: “Worst top-10 in that regard”: Andrey Rublev Reveals Struggle With Self-Control

However, he said that some of his close friends who were there with him at the time and also the fact that some spectators were allowed at the event made it easier for him to deal with it.