Andrey Rublev, hailing from Russia, achieved a remarkable milestone in his tennis career by securing his inaugural Wimbledon quarter-final berth in a gripping five-set encounter against Alexander Bublik. The match concluded with a sensational shot from Rublev during the final game, adding to the excitement.
Rublev displayed tremendous skill and determination to claim a hard-fought victory on Centre Court, triumphing with a scoreline of 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-7 (5-7), 6-4. Bublik, on the other hand, showcased his versatility by employing underarm serves, winning the fourth and eighth games of the second set. He staged a remarkable comeback, forcing the match into a decisive fifth set, but ultimately fell short as Rublev emerged as the victor.
The climax of the match featured a standout moment when Rublev, seeded seventh, made a diving shot to his right, stunning the crowd and securing a crucial point. Renowned tennis commentator John McEnroe, providing commentary for BBC TV, described it as one of the most remarkable shots witnessed in recent years at the Championships. He hailed it as an “incredible” and “electric” conclusion to the match. The spectators at the packed Centre Court were enthralled, rising to their feet and showering the players with a standing ovation.
Bublik, taken aback by Rublev’s diving effort, showed sportsmanship by applauding from the opposite end of the court. Rublev, however, modestly attributed his shot to luck and expressed doubt about replicating it in the future. He acknowledged, “It was the most lucky shot ever. It was luck, nothing else. I don’t think I can do it one more time.” Rublev’s next challenge in the quarter-finals awaits him against either the reigning champion Novak Djokovic or Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz.
This significant triumph propels Rublev into the quarter-finals of all four Grand Slam tournaments at the age of 25. However, he has yet to progress beyond this stage, having been eliminated in the quarter-finals of both the Australian Open and the French Open twice, and suffering three defeats at the same juncture in the US Open.
During the opener, Rublev sustained a painful finger injury at 4-4, necessitating a medical timeout. Despite the setback, he managed to secure the set when Bublik committed a double fault while facing a set point. Bublik, competing in the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time, added intrigue and entertainment to the match with his underarm serves. The first instance occurred during the fourth game of the second set when Rublev was leading 2-1. While Rublev reached the ball, he could only direct his shot into the net. The second underarm serve came when Bublik trailed 5-2, with Rublev managing to retrieve the ball after its second bounce. Interestingly, Bublik lost his service game with a regular service action in between, during the sixth game of the second set.
The underarm serve tactic carries its fair share of risks, as demonstrated by Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in his third-round match on Saturday. He attempted an underarm serve during the final set tie-break at 8-8, allowing his Danish opponent Holger Rune to capitalize on the opportunity and subsequently win the match.
Rublev came agonizingly close to sealing victory in the third set tie-break, recovering from a 6-3 deficit to level the score at 6-6. However, Bublik, who switched citizenship from Russia to Kazakhstan at the age of 19, clinched the set with a splendid passing shot. Bublik displayed resilience in the fourth set, rallying from a 5-3 deficit to win the tie-break, forcing the match into a decisive fifth set.
Russian players were barred from participating in Wimbledon in 2022 following their country’s military intervention in Ukraine. However, they were reinstated this year, allowing Rublev to make his Centre Court debut and ultimately secure a place in the quarter-finals by securing a crucial break in the seventh game of the final set.
Embed from Getty ImagesDimitrov and Sinner progress, while Shapovalov is eliminated.
In a remarkable turn of events, Roman Safiullin, the 92nd-ranked player in the world, achieved a breakthrough at this tournament by advancing to the quarter-finals. The Russian had never progressed beyond the second round of a Grand Slam before, but he showcased his resilience by staging a comeback from a set down against Denis Shapovalov, the 26th seed from Canada.
Safiullin, aged 25, displayed tremendous determination as he triumphed over Shapovalov with a final score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3. His impressive victory sets up an intriguing encounter with Jannik Sinner, the eighth seed hailing from Italy. Sinner, a 21-year-old talent, secured his spot in the quarter-finals after defeating Colombia’s Daniel Elahi Galan in a thrilling match that ended 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 6-3.
Meanwhile, Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria concluded the third-round matches by claiming a resounding win over the 10th-seeded American Frances Tiafoe in straight sets. As the 21st seed, Dimitrov had taken a commanding lead of two sets before rain interrupted the proceedings on Saturday. However, he remained composed and returned on Sunday to finish the job, securing a comfortable 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 victory. His next challenge will be against the Danish sixth seed, Holger Rune, in the round of 16 scheduled for Monday.
Excitement fills the air as Safiullin, Sinner, Dimitrov, and Rune continue their inspiring journeys at this tournament, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the exhilarating matches that lie ahead.
