KUUMAR SHYAM (ALETIHAD)
When the Game Changers Falcons team came for the post-match conference after securing the World Tennis League Season 3 title, one man's absence was, ironically, conspicuous even though the glory in Abu Dhabi must have soothened some bitter memories.
Andrey Rublev has finished his season on a winning note in Abu Dhabi but the world No.8 had a rollercoaster year, one that started with the ignominy of disqualification in Dubai for yelling at a chair umpire and which opened up episodes about his anger management and a bout of depression that came with it.
In an interview with Championat earlier this month, his long-standing coach Fernando Vicente opened up on the struggles the Russian had to go through while his personal team tried to help him wade through. At the end of it, he had two ATP Tour titles and one runner-up finish to show for it, despite multiple meltdowns, especially in the crunch stages and at the four majors.
Besides, there were fitness woes to make it compounding. "It's been a crazy season. Before the Chinese series, he had a problem with a testicle. The doctor begged him not to go, but Andrey wanted to. Then he had a problem in the abdominal area and could hardly serve. Andrey is crazy, in the good sense of the word. He always wants to train: Monday, Saturday, Sunday, it doesn't matter. I have to kick him off the court. I'm glad to train a player like that," said Vicente, who has been coaching Rublev since 2017.
But the coach was candid enough to rate Rublev's anger management at a "four out of 10" as the player was seen smashing his knees with the racquet and expressing his frustration wildly with his hands on many occasions, even after his episode at the Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championships in February early in the season.
"We tried to be close to him, to support him, we went to the psychologist three times a week, where the conversation revolved around Rublev remembering where he was when it all started and what heights he managed to reach," Vicente added.
All the nurturing saw Rublev come to Abu Dhabi with trophies won at the Hong Kong Open and the Madrid Open. He reached the final of the Masters 1000 Canadian Open, but lost to Alexei Popyrin, ranked outside the top 60 in the world.
The franchise team structure at the WTL provided some fun with light competition for Rublev under some more encouragement from the Falcons coach John-Laffnie de Jager. In the end, there was a scare but the team rallied past TSL Hawks in the final to lift the trophy and a winners' cheque of Dh1 million.
With the support of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the Department of Culture and Tourism, and Miral, the WTL ensured a happy exercise for all the teams and world-class players to wind down on their professional duties.
Rublev's teammate Denis Shapovalov said: "You always look for matches in the off-season, and a team event like World Tennis League is the perfect way to check where your level is at. It was great to be alongside these players and win the competition."
While everyone on the Falcons side played a part in changing the game – including Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open champion Elena Rybakina, Caroline Garcia and Shapovalov – when asked who would keep the trophy, the whole team chorused in a shout, "Rublev, Rublev, Rublev."
Seems like team spirit could help Rublev turn it around next season.