By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, Might 24, 2026
Photograph credit score: Dubai Responsibility Free Tennis Championships
Previously, a raging Andrey Rublev might implode like a person with hair on hearth.
As of late, a cool-headed Rublev is attempting to handle the psychological recreation—and his lengthy hair—with somewhat bit extra care.
Rublev ripped 44 winners nullifying Nuno Borges for the fifth time in a row 7-5, 7-6(2), 7-6(2) to roll into the Roland Garros fourth spherical for the fourth time.
The Eleventh-seeded Rublev arrives in week two looking for to shatter a serious barrier. Rublev has contested 10 profession Grand Slam quarterfinals and is aiming to advance to a maiden main semifinal at Roland Garros.
Rublev will face both eighth-seeded Aussie Alex de Minaur or 2025 Miami Open champion Jakub Mensik, certainly one of solely three males to defeat No. 1 Jannik Sinner this yr, for a quarterfinal return.
Sporting a shoulder-length lion’s mane of crimson locks, Rublev’s hair was a subject of debate in the present day following a head-turning serving efficiency that noticed him pump 12 aces in opposition to three double faults.
Requested his hair-care routine in his post-match presser, Rublev mentioned response to his lengthy locks has been excessive based mostly on his outcomes.
When Rublev was struggling, some critics complained his do made him resemble a poor primate. Now that he’s profitable, Rublev hears followers calling him a “rock star.”
“It’s humorous, as a result of after I was sort of distant from high 10 and issues like that, it was reverse,” Rublev mentioned. “[People said] Can he have a traditional haircut?
“What is that this together with his hair? He appears to be like like a monkey. He haven’t any cash to have a haircut?
“Then once you begin to be a greater participant, someway you seems to the highest 10, it’s, like, Wow, what hair he have, what a mode, he’s a rock star.
“I had all my life, this hair. How that opinion change, you realize? However, in fact, I’m taking care, however not loopy.”
Magnificence is within the eye of the beholder and Rublev mentioned he likes the look of his 10 profession Slam quarterfinals.
“No, I don’t really feel I’ve should [reach a Slam semifinal] or no, as a result of I do know if I’ll do the issues proper, I’ll do it,” Rublev mentioned. “Doesn’t matter this time, subsequent time, or in couple of years anyway, as a result of in the long run, ten quarterfinals I’ve. It’s larger than many gamers who did one or twice semifinal, and I cannot change these ten quarterfinals for one or two semifinals.
“Extra semifinal, quarterfinal is similar. It’s not last. Closing, sure, I’ll do change (smiling), however semifinal, no.”
