Andrey Rublev Inches Closer to Roger Federer in an Incredible Streak, Surpasses Andy Murray

Russian tennis star Andrey Rublev’s incredible winning streak in ATP 500 tournaments has now taken him to a new high.

The current World Number 8 extended his unbeaten run to 22 matches on Thursday with a thumping straight-sets win over American Taylor Fritz at the Mexican Open.

Andrey Rublev has now crossed Andy Murray’s tally of 21 consecutive wins in ATP 500 events eyes Roger Federer next

Rublev’s tally of wins at ATP 500 events has now seen him zoom past three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray’s mark of 21 and put him in hot pursuit of Roger Federer.

The 20-time Grand Slam-winning Swiss, who returned to tennis after a 14-month injury break at the recent Qatar Open, currently leads with 28 consecutive wins at ATP wins at ATP 500 events.

However, if the Russian’s early dominance in Acapulco is any indication, the Federer record is under serious threat.

Rublev picked up five Tour titles, the most by any player last season. He has won four straight ATP 500 championships since last year, the last of which came at Rotterdam weeks back.

Andrey Rublev routed Taylor Fritz to storm into the quarters of Mexican Open on Thursday

Fritz, who stretched World Number 1 Novak Djokovic to five sets in his third-round Australian Open clash, did not have any answer to Rublev’s ferocious ball-striking in the pre-quarters tie on Thursday as the latter ran out a commanding 6-3, 6-1 winner.

The Russian will take on Hungarian Marton Fucsovics, his opponent in the Rotterdam final, for a place in the last-four later on Thursday.

Murray, a two-time Wimbledon champion, was one of the opponents Rublev beat on his way to reaching the Rotterdam final.

Playing the preceding 250 event in Doha, Rublev, who received a walk-over into the tournament semi-final after his opponents in the tour previous rounds withdrew, lost to Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut.

The Russian reached the quarter-final of this year’s Australian Open but bowed out in the last-eight stage after losing to compatriot and eventual finalist Daniil Medvedev.

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In what was easily his breakthrough season in 2020, the Russian made the cut at the season-ending ATP Finals in London but crashed out in the round-robin stage.