Spoiler:
Fourth seed to play former World No. 3 Cilic next
After the last match between Marton Fucsovics and Andrey Rublev, Fucsovics told the Russian he didn't want to play him again this year. On Monday, we saw why.
Rublev defeated the in-form Hungarian 6-2, 6-1 in 52 minutes to reach the Round of 16 at the Miami Open presented by Itau. The fourth seed leads the ATP Tour with 18 victories this season.
2021 ATP Tour Wins Leaders
Player W-L Record
1. Andrey Rublev 18-3
2. Daniil Medvedev 16-2
3. Stefanos Tsitsipas 15-4
4. Alexander Bublik 14-7
T5. Aslan Karatsev 13-2
T5. Marton Fucsovics 13-5
This was the pair’s third ATP Head2Head meeting of the month, and Rublev won them all in straight sets. This clash, however, was the most lopsided in the 23-year-old’s favour. Rublev was on fire to such an extent that the World No. 40 was left in disbelief during the last game. The Russian even cracked a laugh as he walked to the net, knowing he had played a flawless match.
Fucsovics started well, holding serve to begin the match and gaining a quick 0/15 advantage on his opponent’s serve. But Rublev made a tough forehand passing shot look easy, hooking a winner crosscourt, and from there the Russian train got rolling.
Rublev attacked his opponent’s forehand in key moments, and the 29th seed conceded three of his five breaks with errors on the back foot from that wing. The eight-time ATP Tour titlist was at his ruthless best, too, earning another break with a crushed backhand return winner.
Fucsovics was trying to secure his second Top 10 win — the first came against Daniil Medvedev at Roland Garros last year — but fell to 1-17 against the elite group. The 29-year-old is still enjoying the best season of his career, as he began the week at seventh in the FedEx ATP Race To Turin.
How To Watch
Rublev's next opponent, Marin Cilic produced a clinical performance earlier in the day to reach the Round of 16.
Rublev leads has a 2-1 ATP Head2Head series lead against Cilic, with the Croatian’s only triumph coming in 2015, when Rublev was only 17. They met at this event in 2019, with the Russian triumphing in straight sets.
Did You Know?
This is the first time Rublev has advanced to the fourth round at the Miami Open presented by Itau. Two years ago, he reached the third round as a qualifier.
After the last match between Marton Fucsovics and Andrey Rublev, Fucsovics told the Russian he didn't want to play him again this year. On Monday, we saw why.
Rublev defeated the in-form Hungarian 6-2, 6-1 in 52 minutes to reach the Round of 16 at the Miami Open presented by Itau. The fourth seed leads the ATP Tour with 18 victories this season.
2021 ATP Tour Wins Leaders
Player W-L Record
1. Andrey Rublev 18-3
2. Daniil Medvedev 16-2
3. Stefanos Tsitsipas 15-4
4. Alexander Bublik 14-7
T5. Aslan Karatsev 13-2
T5. Marton Fucsovics 13-5
This was the pair’s third ATP Head2Head meeting of the month, and Rublev won them all in straight sets. This clash, however, was the most lopsided in the 23-year-old’s favour. Rublev was on fire to such an extent that the World No. 40 was left in disbelief during the last game. The Russian even cracked a laugh as he walked to the net, knowing he had played a flawless match.
Fucsovics started well, holding serve to begin the match and gaining a quick 0/15 advantage on his opponent’s serve. But Rublev made a tough forehand passing shot look easy, hooking a winner crosscourt, and from there the Russian train got rolling.
Rublev attacked his opponent’s forehand in key moments, and the 29th seed conceded three of his five breaks with errors on the back foot from that wing. The eight-time ATP Tour titlist was at his ruthless best, too, earning another break with a crushed backhand return winner.
Fucsovics was trying to secure his second Top 10 win — the first came against Daniil Medvedev at Roland Garros last year — but fell to 1-17 against the elite group. The 29-year-old is still enjoying the best season of his career, as he began the week at seventh in the FedEx ATP Race To Turin.
How To Watch
Rublev's next opponent, Marin Cilic produced a clinical performance earlier in the day to reach the Round of 16.
Rublev leads has a 2-1 ATP Head2Head series lead against Cilic, with the Croatian’s only triumph coming in 2015, when Rublev was only 17. They met at this event in 2019, with the Russian triumphing in straight sets.
Did You Know?
This is the first time Rublev has advanced to the fourth round at the Miami Open presented by Itau. Two years ago, he reached the third round as a qualifier.