Rising Russian tennis star Andrey Rublev has opened up on his love for tennis and how the sport makes his world go round.

Rublev made waves in the Covid-curtailed 2020 season, picking up five titles on the Tour, the highest by any player across the men’s and women’s fields last year.

Was hooked to tennis since boyhood, says Andrey Rublev

He was also the joint-topper, alongside 17-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, in terms of the most number of matches won in the calendar year. Both logged 41 wins, with the Serb losing five matches less and the Russian winning a title more.

In an interview to Tennis Channel, Rublev said he was hooked to the game right from boyhood and all he ever wanted to be was a tennis player.

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“Tennis is life, (it) is everything for me. Since I was a kid, it has been my life. I could give everything for tennis,” the big Russian said.

He added that he would like to dish out a brand of tennis that leaves the game’s followers in no doubt that it is a lot more than a sport for him. “If you have to improve, you need to learn to see the situation from another angle. I would like to show people that it’s more than just a sport,” Rublev said.

No secret, only hard work key to success, says Rublev

His run of championship wins last year helped him move up the rankings and even break into the Top-10. He finished the season ranked eighth.

Rublev said that tennis is more like a life drug for him and hardly a day goes by when he is not playing or thinking about the game. “I am completely addicted to tennis and I cannot imagine my life without it,” the Russian said.

On how he prepares himself for battles on court and the secret to his success, Rublev said, “There’s no secret. Gym in the morning, there’s gonna be some injury prevention (exercises) and some mobility for my body.”

On whether there’s any aspect of his game that he needs to improve on, Rublev said, “I know exactly the things that I need to improve to compete better against top players. At this level, you know what you are missing and what you’re doing well. 

So, when I now go for practice, I am even more motivated.”

Read More: “I never followed him”: Andrey Rublev on Roger Federer’s 18th Consecutive Fan Favorite Award

After his stupendous show on the Tour last year, the Russian will be eyeing his maiden Grand Slam title going into the Australian Open.