Rublev eliminates Fritz 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 advance to the final in Monte Carlo
While Andrei Rublev reached the final in 2021 (l. Tsitsipas), Fritz’s best result was last year’s Masters clay court quarters 1000 event. Although both are twenty-five years old and have achieved high positions in their careers #5Russian is now #6 while the American fell to ten.
Although Fritz was leading head to head 4-2It was their first meeting on earth. Fritz won his first and only championship titles 1000 crown last year in the Indian Wells desert while Rublev was 0-2 in the final. (Mont Carlo & Cincy).
American deployed 8he knocked out two-time defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas and advanced to the penultimate round. Rublev with four career clay court top 10 wins (Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Rafa Nadal & Novak Djokovic) was determined to get another shot at this elusive trophy.
In wet, windy conditions, Fritz opened the match and dropped a serve after four unforced errors, while Rublev hit four winners, including two aces, to solidify the break in love. Fritz held on easily 15 Down 1-2 while Rublev missed 3/ /5 the first serve and two more forehand faults, he gave the break.
Fritz opened the fifth with a double fault and dropped the serve with four additional faults while Rublev missed 5/ /8 serves first and gives a break. Level at 3-3Fritz held on easily 15 with two consecutive groundstroke winners while Rublev served with new balls, he missed 6/ /6 the first service was still at the level.
Fritz opened it 9th with an ace in the tee but with two consecutive forehand faults, he encountered a double break point and lost the match after another break point and a forehand fault. The Russian opened with a stunning drop shot from the forehand and at least hit it 5/ /5 first serve, face to face 15-40 and gave the break when Fritz played a forehand return.
The American opened 11th with an amazing lane backhand and three additional winners, including his second ace held 15 Down 6-5. Rublev served to force a tie-break and when he reached the game point on 40-15he condoned three unforced errors and lost the set.
Fritz served first in the second inning and threw the pass after three unforced faults, including a double fault, while Rublev made three unforced faults, but with four winners – two forehands and two strikes – cemented the gap on 2-0.
Fritz missed 4/ /6 serves first, but hit two winners to hold on thirty get on the board. Rublev missed 5/ /8 serves first and had a break point but managed to keep it 3-1. Fritz, serving with the new balls, made two more backhand faults, had two break points, and lost the serve with a fourth backhand fault.
Rublev opened 6th with an amazing backhand half-volley from a deep return, but with three double faults facing four deuces and two breakpoints, but held up with a huge serve on the tee. Fritz down 1-5 he hit his third ace, but with two double faults he had two deuces and four sets and lost a set with another double fault.
Rublev served first in the third and scored the opening point on a twenty-eight-shot exchange as Fritz went wide with his backhand and easily held 15 when Fritz overcooked the comeback.
The American opened with a backhand error, but managed to keep the third ace thirty Down 1-1. Rublev faced a double break point and dropped the serve as Fritz accelerated off the ground. The American went 0-30 after an unfortunate forehand and double fault, but saved the breakpoint with a fantastic forehand down the line after a remarkable 40– shot rally. However, he gave up the break when Rublev made a backhand down the line.
Level two apiece, the Russian missed 3/ /4 the first servos that still love 3-2. During the shift, it was raining more and more heavily, and the game at 4:00 local time. The players returned to the field after 1 ¾ hour and after the warm-up, the game resumed.
Fritz, perhaps concerned about the wet conditions and aggressive play by the opponent, was nervous for most of the match. He missed 3/ /6 first serve, faced a double break point and abandoned the serve after an epic 34an exchange of shots which Rublev ended with a great backhand down the line.
Rublev stayed focused on the laser as he loved to solidify the break. Fritz, serving to stay in the down match 2-5omitted 8/ /12 first serve and had three deuces and three match points, but found a way to keep it. The pardon was short-lived, however, as Rublev beat the winners from both wings to end the match in love and reach his second final in two years.
He finished with two aces, three double faults and won 65% of the first i 50% of second serve points. He was more impressive when he came back winning 36% of the first i 65% turning points of the second serve. he wrote down 3/ /8 breakpoints but only converted 8/ /21. While he will mourn these missed opportunities, he will relish the opportunity to play for his first champions 1000 title.
His opponent will be Jannik Sinner or Holger Rune. Rublev tracks down Sinner 2-3 in a matchup, including last year in the round 16 in Monaco. He is 1-1 vs Rune out, defeating the Dane in an epic five-set matchup in the round 16 in January this year at the Australian Open.
Regardless of the opponent, the Russian will have to show off his A+ game against two of the brightest young stars ATP trip. Sinner from Italy, who is only twenty-one, has won and lost two champions 1000 finals in Miami, while Rune was two years younger, defeated Novak Djokovic last fall at the Paris Indoors to claim his maiden championship 1000 title.
