Carlos Alcaraz Describes Andrey Rublev as Unstoppable in Practice
Carlos Alcaraz Calls Andrey Rublev Unplayable During Practice
World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz recently praised one of his competitors as 'unplayable' after a practice session. At just 23, the Spaniard is already considered among tennis’s rising legends, holding seven Grand Slam titles, including two US Opens, two Wimbledons, two French Opens, and one Australian Open.
This year, Alcaraz has claimed only one Grand Slam, partly due to a wrist injury that sidelined him for both the French Open and Wimbledon. Similarly, his rival Jannik Sinner has battled injuries but is expected back in December.
Alcaraz began his run at the Vienna Open with a 6-4, 7-6 victory over Karen Khachanov and now awaits the winner between Jurij Rodionov and Nikoloz Basilashvili.
Practice Session Highlights Rublev’s Strength
According to Tennis 365, Alcaraz revealed that during a recent practice match, Russian player Andrey Rublev was nearly unstoppable. Despite Rublev’s early exit from the Vienna Open after losing in the first round to American Tommy Paul, Alcaraz described how tough it was to face him on the court.
“Sometimes it’s really hard to see things for what they are. When I practiced with Rublev, I lost 6-2, but I felt I was playing well. He was unplayable. Every forehand was full power, and his backhands were incredibly strong,” Alcaraz said.
“I couldn’t be aggressive on even one or two shots. I left the court a bit unhappy but also reassured that I was doing the right things. Sometimes in tennis, you face someone who doesn’t let you play, and that day, I thought about what I did well. Honestly, I learned a lot from those sessions.”
Unexpected Entry and Upcoming Matches
Originally, Alcaraz wasn’t scheduled to compete at the Vienna Open but accepted a late wildcard after the Six Kings Slam was postponed until December. After losing to Rublev in practice, he will be relieved to see Rublev eliminated early since they were placed in the same half of the draw and could have met in the quarterfinals.
Looking ahead, if Alcaraz advances to the quarterfinals, he will likely face Tommy Paul, Rublev’s conqueror. Before that, Paul must get past Italian player Luciano Darderi in the round of 16.
