In a surprising turn of events, Nick Kyrgios, known for his own on-court outbursts, expressed disapproval of Andrey Rublev’s recent emotional display during a match at the ATP Finals. Rublev lost his temper, as he was on the verge of losing his match against Carlos Alcaraz. He vented his frustration by forcefully hitting his racket on his knee, which started oozing with blood.
Even Kyrgios, making his debut as an analyst on The Tennis Channel, found Rublev’s reaction extreme, as it appeared he was attempting to self-harm. Kyrgios remarked, “I mean, from someone who doesn’t hold his composure pretty well, like myself, this is crazy. I’ve never done that, to be honest. I mean, he needs a knee.”
The Tennis Channel shared the incident on the social media site X, quoting Kyrgios’s opinion and adding a humorous caption with a laughing emoji that read, “Even @NickKyrgios believes Rublev went overboard when he smashed his knee with his racquet,” conveying a lighthearted sarcasm in Kyrgios’ opinion on the incident.
Even @NickKyrgios believes Rublev went overboard when he smashed his knee with his racquet 😂#TCLive pic.twitter.com/av43izjEFI
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) November 15, 2023
Furthermore, when Kyrgios was asked what advice he would give Rublev on managing his temper for his next match host commentator on the show, Kyrgios gave a somewhat “hypocritical” response, which didn’t gel with his own on-court demeanors. He said, “Just hold your composure, go to the towel, next point.”
Former tennis star Andy Roddick, also an analyst on the show, playfully pointed out the irony in Kyrgios’s suggestion, stating, “That’s the Kyrgios special—no emotion, just straight to the towel, no problem.” Meanwhile, Rublev lost the match to Alcaraz 7-5, 6-2, making it unlikely for him to qualify for the semifinals after losing both of his group matches. Rublev next plays Alexander Zverev in his last round-robin match.
Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev’s match preview and prediction
In their head-to-head encounters, Alexander Zverev holds the advantage over Andrey Rublev, clinching victories in five out of their eight tour-level meetings. Particularly on hard courts, Zverev has dominated, winning four out of five meetings. However, in their last three encounters, Rublev has emerged victorious.
In their most recent encounter in Vienna on hardcourts, Rublev secured victory in three sets, 6-1, 6-7, 6-3. Despite Zverev’s initial supremacy, Rublev had showcased his prowess in their recent matchups. The Russian’s aggressive style and impressive court coverage from the baseline have overpowered Zverev in their recent matches.
However, if we assess their performances in the ongoing ATP Finals, Zverev, who beat world no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, has shown more intensity and resolve in his matches than Rublev. With two ATP Finals titles under his belt, Zverev’s past record in this tournament outshines that of his opponent, who has managed only four wins in his five appearances at this elite event to date.
Carlos Alcaraz beaten by Alexander Zverev in ATP Finals debut https://t.co/nZofIEcLjU
— The National Sport (@NatSportUAE) November 13, 2023
Considering these factors, the advantage appears to favor the German player, who will press for a win to remain in the reckoning for the semifinals. Based on Zverev’s recent performances, it suggests that he is likely to secure victory in three sets at the most, although it should be a well-contested match as both players have similar game styles.