Tennis has always been a battlefield of talent and mental fortitude, and Andrey Rublev knows that fight all too well. The world No. 10 has spent the last year grappling not only with opponents on the court but also with his own inner demons, openly admitting his battles with depression and self-doubt.
After a rollercoaster 2024 season that saw him capture the Mutua Madrid Open title, Rublev’s form took a downward spiral, exposing the instability that has long plagued his game. His frustration boiled over into concerning episodes of self-harm, and his fluctuating results reflected the mental war he was waging.
Now, as he embarks on the 2025 season, Rublev is determined to turn the page—working on his weaknesses, finding balance, and proving to himself that he belongs among the sport’s elite.
Rublev: “Luck Had Nothing to Do With It”
The Russian star is gearing up for a fresh start at the ATP 500 in Doha, where he will face Alexander Bublik in his opening match. With Jannik Sinner absent due to a three-month suspension, the field is wide open for Rublev to make a deep run.
Speaking at his pre-tournament press conference, Rublev reflected on his four-year tenure in the ATP Top 10—a feat he once struggled to believe was real.
“It’s not a trivial achievement to get into the Top 10 of the ATP rankings, and I’m proud of that,” he admitted. “The first two years, I often thought that I was lucky, that I had just found a good moment, and that I made it into the Top 10 because other players had been injured.”
Self-doubt clouded his success, convincing him that his ranking was a mirage rather than a reflection of his skill. But after four seasons among the elite, Rublev finally believes in his own ability.
“After the third year, I started to think that I wasn’t that bad. Now I have even more confidence and I know that I was good—luck has nothing to do with it.”
That realization has fueled his hunger for more than just consistency. He is determined to evolve, to confront his flaws, and to eliminate the emotional volatility that has cost him big moments.
“I have achieved one of my biggest goals, but I want to continue to learn from my mistakes. Although I’ve been in the Top 10 for four years, I still act like a kid on the court at times.”
A New Chapter for Rublev?
If there’s one thing that has held Rublev back from becoming a true Grand Slam contender, it’s his tendency to unravel under pressure. His fiery on-court meltdowns, coupled with his admitted struggles with mental health, have often overshadowed his talent.
But the 2025 season offers him a clean slate—an opportunity to silence his inner critic and finally make that long-awaited leap to tennis’ upper echelon.
If Rublev can channel his aggression, stabilize his mental game, and turn self-doubt into confidence, the tennis world may finally see him transform from a Top 10 mainstay into a legitimate Grand Slam threat.
And with a wide-open ATP landscape, the timing has never been better for Andrey Rublev to step up and prove that he is more than just a streaky talent—but a force to be reckoned with.
