Anna Dmitrieva, a former Soviet tennis player, reflected on the challenge of explaining Andrei Rublev’s loss in the Shanghai Masters final. Her remarks hint at the pressure and nerves that accompany a high-stakes finale on one of tennis’s biggest stages, where every point carries meaning for a player’s season.
“Rublev showed moments of focus but admitted that the match demanded psychological steadiness and a bit of luck,” Dmitrieva observed. “There isn’t a lingering psychological issue at play. The tension is immense each time the ball is in motion. Andrey remains exceptionally steady under pressure. It’s likely he faced a touch of misfortune in the decisive moments.”
In the final, Rublev’s bid ended with a 6:3, 3:6, 7:6 (10:8) scoreline against Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz. The contest stretched over two hours and six minutes, delivering a dramatic, back-and-forth finish that kept spectators hooked until the last ball. [Source: ATP]
For Rublev, this marked a second trip to the Shanghai Masters final in the same season, underscoring a strong run at a premier event on the tour. Earlier in the year, he captured the Monte Carlo title by defeating Dane Holger Rune in a decisive clash, signaling his continued ascent in the sport. [Source: ATP]
At the time, Rublev sat seventh in the ATP rankings with 4,550 points, while the player leading the rankings, Novak Djokovic, held 11,545 points. Carlos Alcaraz followed with 8,715 points, and Daniil Medvedev sat among the top three with 7,490 points. Hurkacz, the Shanghai finalist, stood at 17th in the standings. Thanks to reaching the final in Shanghai on October 16, Rublev was projected to rise by two places in the ATP rankings, reflecting the impact of deep runs at Masters level events. [Source: ATP]
Earlier in the tournament cycle, Rublev’s loss in the final had been attributed, in part, to a momentary lapse in concentration. That brief drift away from peak focus can be decisive in a tightly contested final, where every rally matters and one small misstep can swing momentum. The experience, though, also highlights Rublev’s competitive resilience and ongoing potential as he pursues further big-stage successes in the season’s closing events. [Source: ATP]