Andrey Rublev sinks Lorenzo Sonego in Metz | ATP Tour

Match Report

Rublev sinks defending champ Sonego on Metz debut

Top seed to next face Moutet or Struff at indoor ATP 250

November 05, 2024

The news that Andrey Rublev had qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals might just have been his tonic on Tuesday at the Moselle Open.

The top seed at the indoor ATP 250 in Metz dialled in for a hard-fought 7-6(3), 7-5 win over Lorenzo Sonego, the 2022 champion. In a battle dominated by the server, Rublev found the only break of the match to seal a one-hour, 52-minute victory.

“It was a tough match, he is playing really well, he beat me the last two times,” said Rublev, who levelled the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series at 2-2. “With the way he serves, and how he plays with the forehand, it’s really tough to play against him. The first set could have gone either way, but as soon as I had a chance, I was able to take it.”

No. 1⃣ seed ⏩ Last 8@AndreyRublev97 advances in Metz!@MoselleOpen | #MoselleOpen pic.twitter.com/hlhYakUs4R

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 5, 2024

Rublev saved each of the five break points he faced in the first set, according to Infosys ATP Stats, before coming alive in the tie-break.

The No. 9 in the PIF ATP Rankings then bided his time in the second before pouncing in the 12th game to become the highest-ranked player in the quarter-finals in Metz since Stan Wawrinka, the No. 4, in 2014.

“It’s always nice to play a couple of matches before the big events,” added Rublev, when asked about his preparations for the Nitto ATP Finals. “Here [in Metz], you play great players because the level of tennis is very even now. With the speed of the surface, the tennis becomes more even, and only the little details decide matches like today. Anyone can beat anyone.”

The 27-year-old will next face either Corentin Moutet or Jan-Lennard Struff in the last eight.