Tennis star Andrey Rublev is a force to be reckoned with on the ATP Tour. The Russian professional tennis player, known for his dynamic playing style, won 15 titles on the circuit, and is ranked No.5 at ATP List – he first reached the world No. 5 ranking in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) in September 2021.
Andrey Rublev was born into a sporting family, with his father being a former professional boxer and his mother a tennis coach. This athletic environment led Rublev to develop a passion for sports. He had a successful junior career, highlighted by winning the French Open junior singles title in 2014. Rublev turned professional the same year. Known for his aggressive playing style and powerful groundstrokes, he began climbing the ATP rankings. He won his first ATP title in 2017. Rublev’s breakthrough came in 2020 when he won five ATP singles titles, tying with Novak Djokovic for the most titles won that year.
INTERVIEWS
In 2021 Rublev lead the Russian team to victory in the Davis Cup. Rublev’s singles career is highlighted by his 15 ATP Tour singles titles, including a prestigious Masters 1000 title at the 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters. He reached the quarterfinals in all four Grand Slams. But his success is not limited to singles. The highlights in dubles include four titles, an Olympic gold medal in mixed doubles at the 2020 Summer Olympics alongside Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, and a Masters 1000 title at the 2023 Madrid Open with compatriot Karen Khachanov.
In the DSCENE exclusive interview with Nikola Bajović, Andrey Rublev shares insights into his journey in the sport. He attributes his early exposure to tennis to his sports-oriented family. He reflects on his career milestones, and credits his success to improvements in various aspects of his game. He also talks about preparing for Grand Slams, his love for music, and a search for a balance between his professional and personal life.
Read full interview + discover the story captured by fashion photographer Elys Berroteran, and styled by Victor Lopez below:
Hi Andrey! Let’s start by discussing your journey into professional tennis. Can you tell me how you first got into the sport and what motivated you to pursue it professionally? – I don’t remember how I got into tennis because I was super young. I come from a sports-oriented family. My father used to be a boxer, my mother is a tennis coach and my grandfather used to be a Greco-Roman wrestler. I was always surrounded by sports. My family would take me everywhere, including the tennis court, and that’s how I started playing tennis.
You made your debut in Luxembourg at the age of 13, securing your first win in your second competition in Phoenix. Could you take us back to that moment and describe the exact feeling of experiencing your very first significant accomplishment? – To be honest, I don’t remember those moments. There are definitely many of them, great memories and feelings from my junior years and early training experiences, traveling with other players. Each stage of my journey, from the youth level to the ATP tour, holds its own set of wonderful memories and moments.
You’ve had an impressive career so far, reaching new heights in the ATP rankings. You have been ranked as high as world No. 5 in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals, which you first achieved in September 2021. What would you say has been the key to your success on the court? – The key to my success on the court was that I was able to improve some things. I improved playing skills, serving, movement, and mental strength.
As you’ve climbed the rankings, you’ve faced some of the world’s best players. Is there a particular match or opponent that stands out as a turning point in your career? – I haven’t faced many players repeatedly. Looking at 2023, it’s probably Novak, because I lost all the most important matches to him. I don’t consider myself a close competitor to him. We’ll see what the future holds.
Grand Slam tournaments are pinnacle events in tennis. How do you prepare for these major competitions, and what are your aspirations for Grand Slam success? – Grand Slam tournaments are, to be honest, a bit unpredictable. I focus on practicing to the best of my ability and try to enter the matches as fresh as possible, and see what’s gonna happen. You can not control if you’re gonna win the first rounds or not. I just try to work as hard as I can and then just see what happens next.
Beyond tennis, do you have any hobbies or interests that help you unwind and recharge off the court? How do you strike a balance between your professional and personal life?
I don’t really have that many hobbies. I would say one of them or maybe the only one is music. I love music a lot, and I try to involve myself in activities related to music. Striking a balance between tennis and personal life is tough for me, as everything seems quite unbalanced. It’s something that im working on.
On a different note, I like to ask, are there any favorite genres, artists, or songs that you enjoy listening to for motivation or relaxation?
I have a lot of favorite artists. I listen to all the genres, in general I love music. I have a lot of songs for every situation. I don’t really listen to them for motivation but rather when I’m on the road, especially when driving.
I read that you also create your own electronic music. Does that mean music is also one of the significant parts of your life? – I haven’t created a full song – from the beginning till the end – yet, but I’m learning and experimenting with the creative process. Besides tennis, music is the most important thing in my life.
In the midst of a busy tennis season, downtime is crucial. How do you recharge when you’re not on the court? Are there specific activities or rituals you enjoy to relax and take your mind off the game? – I’m still figuring out how to recharge and maintain energy and consistency during the season. It’s an ongoing process, and I’m trying to be calmer, spend less energy, and focus on spending time with my loved ones. It’s not easy; everything is very individual, and each player needs to find their own routine.
Looking ahead, what are your goals for the future, both in the near term and long term? – First of all, my goal is to improve areas that need improvement. The second objective is to find balance in my life, considering that having balance in everything is the best gift life can offer. If a person achieves balance in every aspect, they are undoubtedly remarkable. So that is also one of my goals.
Follow Andrey Rublev on Instagram – @andreyrublev
Photographer Elys Berroteran – @Elysmcm
Stylist Victor Lopez – @styledbyVictorLopez
Interview Nikola Bajović
Talent Andrey Rublev
Special thanks to Nicola Arzani – @nicoarzani
For the story Rublev is wearing selected pieces from Prada, Bulgari, and Tom Ford.
