Andrey Rublev‘s 2024 season has been quite a wild ride, starting with a strong performance at the Hong Kong Open where he clinched his first title of the season against Liam Broady. However, his journey took a serious turn when he was hospitalized due to a tonsillar abscess, which raised concerns about his health. Despite these challenges, Rublev bounced back, winning his second Masters 1000 title at the Madrid Open by defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime in a tightly contested final. Currently ranked No. 7 in the ATP standings, he is competing at the Nordic Open after overcoming major health challenges and seems to be in good rhythm.

It’s great to see Rublev dominating the court again. The Russian star recently secured a convincing victory against Stan Wawrinka in the quarter-finals of the Stockholm Open, winning with a score of 6-4, 6-2. During a post-match press conference, he addressed the questions about his recent health scare. Revealing he underwent emergency surgery just before the Asian swing of the tour, Rublev noted, “I was super lucky,” explaining that he had only hours to act before a potential leg amputation became necessary.

Rublev described how he almost missed his matches in China due to this critical situation. But now, having recovered significantly, he stated humorously, “I almost lost my ball.” He recalled experiencing “a weird feeling” in his leg and deciding to visit the hospital just in case, where doctors quickly identified the issue. “They checked straightaway and they took me as an emergency to take to do the surgery and they were able to do the surgery between three and four hours after the first feeling I felt,” Rublev added.

The specialists emphasized the urgency of his condition. If he waited longer than five to six hours, they would have had to amputate. That was a close call, but thankfully it didn’t turn out as bad as it could have. He kept up his jovial attitude, as he remarked, “The last thing before they made me sleep, I signed the paper that I’m allowing them to amputate my ball.” Thankfully, the 26-year-old emerged from the ordeal in good health, stating, “In the end, I’m lucky and everything is great.”

The Russian has proven himself to be a true trooper, showing remarkable resilience in the face of adversity. Despite a health scare that nearly cost him a limb, his mental toughness has propelled him back onto the court. And interestingly this year, Rublev also got the recognition as the first tennis player to do something unique.

The first tennis player to win the most titles in this decade

Andrey Rublev just notched his 40th win of the year, solidifying his reputation as one of the most consistent players on the men’s tour. Remarkably, he’s now the first player—male or female—to win 40 or more matches every year this decade. Only one other player can boast a similar record – Novak Djokovic. who also has won 40 or more matches every year this decade, except in 2024 where he has, so far, won only 37 matches.

This has been quite a decent season for Rublev. Recently, he avenged an earlier loss to Gilles Muller by defeating him in the quarter-finals of the Stockholm Open. The score? A decisive 6-4, 6-2. This victory propelled him into his 12th quarter-final of the year. He’s already a two-time champion this season, winning titles in Hong Kong and Madrid, and a runner-up in Montreal.

Not to mention that he has had two semi-final appearances in Dubai and Umag, and six quarter-final showings in various tournaments. If it weren’t for uncalled physical obstructions, he’d definitely have improved his ranking even further. With the ATP finals inching closer, will Andrey surprise fans with another glorious achievement? Only time will tell!