Andrey Rublev sought redemption at the ATP Shanghai Masters, triumphing over Ugo Humbert with a convincing 6-2, 6-3 victory, thereby securing a place in the tournament’s semifinals.
A few days ago, Rublev and Humbert faced off in Beijing, with Humbert emerging as the victor in that encounter, as reported by Xinhua.
Reflecting on the match in Beijing, Rublev acknowledged, “During our previous meeting, we both showcased exceptional tennis, and I had my chances. I was even serving for the match. Humbert played remarkably well during that contest. I made a conscious effort to analyze my mistakes from that match.”
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He continued, “Today, I aimed to avoid repeating those errors, and I executed my strategy effectively. Winning in straight sets brings me immense joy. I believe I delivered an outstanding performance.”
In the upcoming semifinals, Rublev is set to face his longtime friend Grigor Dimitrov, who secured his spot by defeating Nicolas Jarry with a score of 7-6(2), 6-4 earlier on Friday.
Dimitrov, despite being the oldest player in the semifinals at the age of 32, regards this season as one of his best. He expressed, “Looking back, especially to 2017, it was arguably my most successful year in terms of tournament victories and match wins. However, it was also marked by inconsistencies.”
He added, “I find myself at a juncture in my career where I must balance hard work with caution. I can’t train the same way I did at 22; I must be mindful of my body’s needs.”
