Hamburg European Open, Germany

[59] Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) vs. [78] Andrey Rublev (RUS)

Despite the discrepancy in their rankings, they were both ranked higher previously. Rublev was ranked as high as thirty-one in 2018 and Carreno Busta as high as number ten in 2017; however, as has happened to numerous athletes in their careers, they both were victims of injury. Both players are currently working hard to regain their top form.

Shaky confidence

Carreno Busta appeared to have taken control of the match after he broke back and then broke again to take the lead in the second set; however, as often happens, he failed to capitalize on numerous break points that would have given him an insurance break. The disappointment lingered and he lost his focus just long enough for Rublev to break him in the next service game. Rublev may not be at his best, but the twenty-one-year-old is showing that he is determined to fight to the very end. If I remember correctly the greatest fighter on the tennis court, Rafael Nadal, is his idol.

Emotions ran high for both

When your confidence is low, it takes very little to rattle you. Thus, despite taking the lead, Carreno Busta was not quite confident and when he had the opportunity to take control of the match he wavered. The frustration eventually boiled over when he lost his serve in his first service game in the third set that the Spaniard sent a ball out of the tennis court, receiving a code violation warning. It was the Russian who vented his emotions earlier in the match; hitting his foot with his racquet or screaming loudly at himself when he made an error. While the emotional outbursts seem to motivate the Russian, they had the opposite effect on the Spaniard, who simply caved after he lost the second set.

Rublev’s confidence soars

As the Spaniard’s belief crumbled, Rublev’s belief grew. He started attacking the ball with more ferocity forcing the Spaniard into making more errors. The Spaniard was so flustered he lost his second service game to go down a double break in the third set. The fickleness of confidence was on full display in this match. Rublev was the one who was dejected and discouraged after losing the first set; yet, the momentum shifted completely when he fought off break points to go down a double break in the second set. The Russian’s demeanor changed completely once he secured the second set and there was not much the Spaniard could do to stop him; Rublev won 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.

SOURCE OF IMAGES: Zimbio.com (main image: Getty Images/Europe-Andrey Rublev)