Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev wounded himself during a meltdown in his second-round loss at the Rolex Paris Masters Tuesday.
The 27-year-old pro had a series of outbursts during a match against Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo, and, with his hopes of reaching the season-ending ATP Finals on the line, Rublev let his frustrations boil over in the second set.
Russia’s Andrey Rublev reacts as he plays against Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo in a men’s singles match at the Paris ATP Masters 1000 tennis tournament at the Accor Arena in Paris Oct. 29, 2024. (Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images)
Rublev screamed toward the crowd in the first set after firing a forehand into the net despite a 5-3 lead. He lost the tiebreaker 7-6 (6). After firing another shot into the net, he appeared to lose his composure all together.
Rublev smashed his racket against his left knee at least seven times, drawing blood.
Andrey Rublev reacts in his match against Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina in the second round of the Rolex Paris Masters 2024 Oct. 29, 2024, in Paris. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Rublev managed to take another 4-2 lead in the second set, but Cerundolo rallied back to win another tiebreaker, 7-6 (5).
Rublev holds the eighth and final qualifying place in the race for the finals, but a loss in Paris Tuesday leaves his fate in the hands of his rivals.
Andrey Rublev reacts in his match against Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina in the second round of the Rolex Paris Masters 2024 Oct. 29, 2024, in Paris. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Australia’s Alex de Minaur will have a chance to take Rublev’s place with a fourth-round appearance in Paris.
