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Madrid Open Champion Andrey Rublev Deemed a ‘Psycho’ by Serena Williams’ Ex-Coach in Judicious Revelation

Published 05/07/2024, 9:40 AM EDT

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Serena Williams‘ former coach spilled the beans on Andrey Rublev‘s tennis persona. He left mayhem in his path as he emerged from a turbulent time. A succession of defeats and a defaulted Rublev from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships due to unparliamentary conduct saw him rise like a phoenix from the ashes to clinch victory at the Madrid Open. Amid the backlash, Rennae Stubbs, a seasoned commentator, shared some tidbits on Andrey Rublev’s demeanour that was a revelation, so to speak.

Recently, the Australian former tennis player, in her own podcast, Racquet’s Rennae Stubbs Podcast, talked about the Madrid Open week and how Rublev’s ‘psycho’ personality on the court helped him achieve the victory. She stated, “I think he lost like four first rounds in a row like he was obviously really upset about it. It really didn’t do well, but I think it’s also funny enough, I think it’s actually helped him because behavior in Madrid was fantastic.”

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Along with that, the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s ex-coach also emphasized the fact that his fight with the umpire in Dubai, which literally caught up to him, was the main reason behind the victory. Further, she added, “Yes, we know how much of a psycho he is on the court because he’s great off the court. I mean, he’s such a character. But I actually think him getting default in in Dubai in the end has actually helped him. Because now you see him not exploding when he maybe would.” 

The sixth-ranked player was not expected to perform well at the Madrid Open despite a string of disappointments earlier in the year, which included a default at the Dubai and successive losses at the Indian Wells and Monte-Carlo. But he hushed his doubters by winning another Masters 1000 title in Madrid, defying predictions.

Despite illness, the sixth-ranked tennis player’s path to success in the tournament was far from easy. After the victory, he stated, If you knew what I had been through in the past nine days, you would not imagine that I would be able to win a title. I was almost dead every day, I was not sleeping at night–the last three, four days I didn’t sleep.”

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Even the legendary American tennis player Andy Roddick had a somewhat similar opinion, highlighting how the 26-year-old’s turbulent past motivated him to perform well on the Madrid courts.

Roddick echoes Serena Williams’ ex-coach’s thoughts on Andrey Rublev 

The 41-year-old American tennis legend discussed Andrey Rublev’s incredible route to triumph in a recent podcast appearance. Reflecting on Rublev’s route, he remarked,Obviously, we saw kind of the meltdown in Dubai earlier this year—you know, four losses on a low, probably become a little bit reflected about what’s working and what’s not.” 

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Further, he added, “You know, kind of having meltdowns, especially while going through a slump, isn’t really the way. Form isn’t a choice, confidence isn’t a choice, but attitude can be a choice sometimes. Injuries and defeats paved the 26-year-old tennis player’s path to his second Masters 1000 title, despite the participation of strong opponents such as Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner, whose presence guaranteed fierce battles.

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Moreover, what are your thoughts on Rublev’s Madrid Open achievement? Do let us know in the common section below.

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Written by:

Pratishtha Prakash

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Pratishtha Prakash, senior tennis writer and resident analyst at EssentiallySports isn't just a sports journalist; she's a storyteller who found her true calling in tennis content. It is something she seamlessly integrates into both her professional and personal realms. At ES, she has curated more than 2400 articles, and each write-up reflects that fans are here to stay! Having professional certifications in content and digital marketing, Pratishtha has made it a habit to hone her skills as a quality journalist.
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Edited by:

Himanshu Sridhar