Andrey Rublev erased a 1-4 deficit in the last set and defeated Holger Rune 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 on Sunday in the Masters 1000 Monte-Carlo final.
Fifth seed of the tournament, the 25-year-old Russian ended the duel with his second match point, using an ace.
He remained motionless for a few moments, the time to check if the ball had fallen inside the limits before dropping to the ground. He stayed there for several seconds to savor the moment.
Rune, a 19-year-old Dane, then stepped over the net and walked over to Rublev to congratulate him.
For Rublev it is a 13e title on the ATP circuit and a first in a Masters 1000 category tournament.
” I do not know what to say. Losing 4-1, 0-30, saving break points. I don’t know how, I managed, ”said Rublev
Sixth seed, Rune missed a golden chance to obtain a second title at a Masters 1000. Last November, he had made an incredible comeback to take the measure of Novak Djokovic in the final of the Paris Masters.
This time, it was Rune who suffered a comeback.
The Dane let the game slip away and lost his temper in the 11e game of the deciding set when he threw two balls towards the bleachers, as a sign of frustration.
“I was totally in control in the third run, [mais] I failed to complete it,” analyzed Rune.
“I’m going to have to look at what I did wrong, what I need to improve and move on because, you know, the French Open is the most important clay-court tournament of the season. »
Onlookers heckled it and, sarcastically, Rune encouraged them to do so. But Rune double faulted which gave his rival the chance to serve for the match.
Rublev had lost his two previous appearances in Masters 1000 tournament finals — in Monte Carlo and Cincinnati in 2021 — but he remained focused on the task.
“In previous finals, I remember that I was not mentally ready and when I faced a deficit, I thought that I had no chance and I collapsed mentally,” described the Russian.
“Today I was like OK, if you’re falling behind today, at least try to believe it until the end. »
Rune appeared refreshed despite playing in a tense semi-final against Jannik Sinner on Saturday night which ended at 9:45 p.m. local time.
He caused the crowd to cheer with a beautifully cut backhand in the sixth game of the first set, and he broke Rublev’s serve with a heavy forehand winner to take a 4-2 lead.
In the next game, Rune saved four break points, but Rublev used his fifth chance to come back on even serve, before making it 4-4 on his serve.
Rune wrapped up the first set when Rublev initially misjudged a shot that landed directly on the line and mistimed his return to provide a break point for the Dane. The latter converted it following an erratic and too long forehand from the Russian.
Rublev broke from the opening game of the second set before consolidating the break without conceding a single point to his young opponent, thanks to a successful ace on a second serve.
Rublev’s combative approach disrupted Rune, who needed to save two break points before earning his serve in the third game.
Rublev picked up the pace, and back-to-back breaks helped him win the second set, in which Rune committed 11 unforced errors.
After Rune took a 2-0 lead in the third set, Rublev seemed bothered by the bounce of the ball on the court. However, Rune saved two break points in a tough fifth game before earning her serve to take a 4-1 lead.
Rune switched racquets as he faced a 0-30 deficit in the seventh game of the deciding set and immediately double faulted.
Rublev let out a mighty scream as he broke his opponent’s serve to make it 4-3 on an even serve as the tide turned in his favour.
Rune thought the late finish to his game on Saturday may have repercussions.
“I didn’t have much time to recover. I gave everything I had. I had nothing left in me. I did what I could and came very close. »