Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev suffered a shocking first-round defeat at Wimbledon on Tuesday, leading to a furious outburst where he smashed his racket on his knee multiple times.
Rublev, known for his volatile temper, lost to Francisco Comesana, the world’s No. 122-ranked player, with a scoreline of 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 7-6.
This latest incident adds to Rublev’s growing reputation for on-court meltdowns. His frustration boiled over when Comesana broke his serve for the second time in the third set, prompting Rublev to violently smash his racket on his knee seven times.
This behavior, while extreme, is not unfamiliar for the 26-year-old, who has a history of heated on-court incidents.
Tuesday’s loss marks Rublev’s second disappointing Grand Slam exit in recent months. He was also eliminated from the French Open on May 31st in a match where he admitted to having one of his worst on-court behaviors ever. Despite recognizing his inappropriate conduct, Rublev’s frustration was palpable during the Wimbledon match.
Following the match, Rublev explained that his outburst was partly due to the strict rules of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, which prohibit players from hitting their rackets on the grass.
“I would not do it if I was able to hit the racket on the floor […] because we’re not allowed to hit them with the grass,” he stated.
Rublev acknowledged his need to manage his emotions better but also expressed a sense of relief after the incident, stating:
“I needed to let emotions out. But thanks, everything is fine.”
While he admitted that his behavior was better than during the French Open, Rublev conceded that he still has a long way to go in controlling his temper.
Despite his repeated outbursts, Rublev remains focused on improving his performance on the court. For now, winning remains his primary objective, while addressing his anger issues can take a back seat.
