Washington
Rublev’s Ace Recreation Helps Washington Recuperate from Rain Delay
Michelsen advances, third seed Khachanov surprises
August 1, 2024
Caean Couto
Andrey Rublev undergoes a rigorous take a look at by Luca Van Assche in Washington, DC
By ATP workers
Prime-seeded Andrey Rublev rose to prominence on Wednesday after a two-and-a-half-hour rain delay on the Mubadala Citi DC Open, defeating France’s #NextGenATP Luca Van Assche 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to achieve the spherical of 16.
“I performed significantly better after I got here again from the rain. Earlier than the rain I could not throw greater than two balls [in]. I missed in all places,” Rublev mentioned in his on-court interview. “I even laughed to myself as a result of it was one thing unreal. I don’t bear in mind ever lacking so badly. I actually couldn’t get two balls within the court docket. I used to be somewhat bit shocked.
“Someway the rain break allowed me to settle down and suppose for a second. ‘Okay, let’s suppose in a different way.’ And in the long run it labored.”
The world quantity eight within the PIF ATP rankings made 18 unforced errors within the opening set and trailed 4-6, 3-2 when play was interrupted on account of rain. Rublev recovered rapidly from the suspension, breaking Van Assche in his second service sport after the restart and hitting 4 straight aces to ship the match right into a deciding set.
Rublev, a two-time Washington semifinalist, got here from a 0/40 gap at 4-3 within the remaining set to attain 5 straight factors, closing out the match after one hour and 42 minutes.
Rublev will now face Sixteenth-seeded Arthur Rinderknech. The 16-time tour-level title holder received their solely Lexus ATP Head2Head assembly in 4 units eventually yr’s US Open. Rinderknech superior on Wednesday after Shang Juncheng retired after 5 video games on account of decrease again ache.
#NextGenATP Alex Michelsen started his marketing campaign in Washington with a 6-3, 7-6(1) victory over Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci. After his victory, the 19-year-old Michelsen is one spot increased within the PIF ATP Stay Race To Jeddah, behind solely Frenchman Arthur Fils, who has greater than double the American’s factors.
Michelsen’s subsequent opponent is South Korean Seongchan Hong, who defeated third-seeded Karen Khachanov 6-2, 6-4 for less than his fifth tour-level victory.
Seventh-seeded Jordan Thompson, a finalist in Atlanta final week, defeated Reilly Opelka 6-4, 6-3. Thompson neutralized the 6-foot-1 American’s serve, successful 75 p.c of his second-serve return factors and changing 4 of his seven break probabilities.
The Australian will subsequent face one other powerful server in ninth seed Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. The Frenchman hit 25 aces en path to a 7-6(6), 7-6(6) win over Emil Ruusuvuori. Eighth seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina defeated Mitchell Krueger 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4.