Rublev reflects on emotional growth after Montreal run

Andrey Rublev may have fallen one match short of winning his third ATP Masters 1000 title on Monday night at the Omnium Banque Nationale présenté par Rogers, but the 26-year-old is proud of how he controlled his emotions throughout his run in Montreal.

“It's a very positive and a really good week. A really big step forward I think. I feel proud of myself that I was able to be really good all week mentally,” Rublev said. “If we took me back a couple of months ago or even one month ago or even compare my match against [Popyrin] at Monte-Carlo when I was losing, I was behaving ten times more and it was the first round.

“Here it was a final. Much more pressure. I still showed a bit of emotion today, but compared to the matches when I was losing the same way, I think I did a much better job. That's why I had a little chance in the second set.”

Rublev has struggled to control his emotions at times in the past, with fans becoming accustomed to seeing the 26-year-old show a full range of feelings when on court.

However, the No. 6 player in the PIF ATP Rankings was calm throughout his run in Montreal, where he upset World No. 1 Jannik Sinner en route to the final. The 16-time tour-level titlist is keen to build on his emotional progress in the weeks ahead.

“I know which lesson I need to take from this match and just to keep moving,” said Rublev, who lost to Alexei Popyrin in straight sets in the final. “I've been [trying to be] more clear in my head since Bastad and every week I'm doing better and better.

“This week no one expected that I [would reach] the final and I did it. So I'm back in a good position in terms of ranking. So I want to focus, keep improving. I just need to take the right lesson and keep going.”

Rublev, who the week before reached the semi-finals in Washington, improved to seventh place in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin, as he seeks to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the fifth consecutive year. The 26-year-old was looking to claim a second Masters 1000 title of the season after he won Madrid during the clay swing.