In the world of tennis, Andrey Rublev is a name that is sending shockwaves. Known for his aggressive gameplay, the Russian star has etched his name as one of the dark horses of the game. Not only this but he is also known to have the sweetest nature of the tennis courts. But, his on-court behavior has sometimes been the center of talks. The same incident happened recently at the Dubai Duty-Free tennis championship where he lost his cool and slammed the umpire right on his face.

But, this was not the first time that something of this sort had happened to him. There have been multiple instances when the Russian star has been in controversy. This then brings us to our question- What is possibly going wrong with Andrey Rublev?

Andrey Rublev’s on-court behaviour has been under a lot of scrutiny

What happened at the DDFT was not the first time when Rublev had gone through such a rough and aggressive stance. Multiple instances back up this incident as well. Back at the Shanghai Masters last year, the Russian star had his own moment. It was the finals of the tournament and he was up against Hubert Hurkacz in the finals.

The match was really exciting, but things got a bit crazy during the third set. Andrey Rublev got super upset at a cameraperson who moved during a crucial moment at 4-5, 40-40. This messed up Rublev’s concentration, and he ended up losing the point. The whole stadium went quiet as the World No. 5 yelled at the cameraperson for messing with the game. The chair umpire then gave Rublev a warning for being unsportsmanlike.

Another incident happened just after that at the UTS. The UTS Grand Final took an intense turn as Andrey Rublev faced off against Holger Rune. The unique format had players aiming for points in four eight-minute quarters. After a strong start by Rune in the first quarter, tensions rose when the score tied at 11-11 in the second. Rublev tried to use a special card, but the umpire missed it.

This frustrated Rublev, leading to a heated argument and even a threat to quit the event. Despite the commotion, Rublev couldn’t change the umpire’s decision, adding drama to the UTS Grand Final.

Thus, these are some of the incidents that have revealed that tensions can get over players in the most crucial matches and this can result in anger and frustration. But, Rublev’s off-court behavior is something to admire.

Rublev’s off-court behavior is the one to admire

While his on-court actions might depict him as a villain, that certainly does not define his off-court behavior. Behind the boundaries of the tennis courts, he is one of the most admired personalities. After his matches, the Russian star tries to sign as many autographs and take as many selfies as he can just to make his fans’ day. Rublev believes that the support of his fans is something that can’t be purchased anywhere in the world.

“I would say obviously it’s something special that you cannot get somewhere or buy somewhere because of feelings. Of course in those moments you feel special. I don’t know. Even myself, I want to say big thanks to these people,” Rublev said. “Maybe with this stuff, you feel a bit more responsibility that you need to always improve in a better way,” he added.

Not only this but many instances speak volumes of Rublev’s ever joyous nature. One amongst them was with Bulgarian heartthrob Grigor Dimitrov when he jokingly said that he almost fell in love with the Bulgarian. “I almost fell in love with you,” said Rublev. Adding to this, he is also the godfather of Daniil Medvedev‘s daughter and has never failed to skip off his duties while playing with her.

Thus, these are some of the instances that clearly suggest that Andrey Rublev has been one of the most chill guys around the tour. But if that is the case, what possibly goes wrong with the Russian star during his matches?

What could possibly go wrong with Andrey Rublev?

While his off-court nature has been the one to admire, his nature on the court has clearly reflected a negative image of the star. But, what could be the possible reason behind this? Sometimes during intense matches, where the stakes are high, things can go a bit out of hand which can trigger the emotions of a player.

In those moments, it is hard for players, even some of the best in the world to control their emotions. This can eventually deteriorate their image as stars. Given the aggression that the Russian star shows, it is obvious that he can indulge in such incidents more frequently than the others. What Andrey Rublev would need to do is have control of this and try not to engage in such things.

Thus, Andrey Rublev, who is certainly one of the stars to look out for on the ATP tour will have to work extensively on controlling his aggression. While it helps him to get past his opponents, it can also bring out his villainous side in multiple instances. What are your views on the incidents that unfolded at the Dubai Duty-Free championship? Do let us know in the comments below!

Also read: Andrey Rublev Dubai Saga: 5 Infamous Disqualifications that Rocked the Tennis World