Andrey Rublev shows high “RawQ” in Dubai fightback

What fueled Andrey Rublev’s comeback victory at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships? The world No. 5 has undoubtedly played well in the Middle East in years past, winning the title in 2022 and reaching the final in 2023.

But a few eagle-eyed fans noticed Rublev brought something extra-special to Center Court that may have helped him defeat Zhang Zhizhen, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-4.

As cameras zoomed in on Rublev’s chair during a changeover, it became apparent that the No. 2 seed was flush with RawQ energy bars, which were created in part by Daniil Medvedev’s wife Daria. RawQ’s social team were quick to repost the image on their official Instagram page.

The collaboration between Medvedeva and nutritionist Arina Kuzmina first hit the market last summer, with Daniil first to officially endorse the bars at during the Cincinnati Open in August.

“My wife made the perfect bar, not only for me, but also to sell it and make it a big product,” he said. “I love them, and I’m eating them, but it’s been an even bigger hustle for them, something like two or three years of hard work to make it happen. I’ve been eating them for some time, but at some of the tournaments where we hadn’t announced it yet, I was mixing them with other brands.

“Now I can only eat them,” he adds with a smile, “and hopefully it’ll become a big thing!”

It’s unsurprising that Rublev, who is godfather to Medvedev’s daughter Alisa, is the latest on board the RawQ train, and has been seen eating them during matches throughout the 2024 season—among other mid-match snacks that include bananas and, bafflingly, a KitKat bar.

The vegan bars boast a buckwheat base, and promise “long-lasting energy” thanks to “a unique combination of ingredients [that] prevent blood sugar level fluctuations [and] provide you with energy for a prolonged period of time.”

That appeared to be the case for Rublev, who weathered a strong serving performance from Zhang to advance in one hour and 48 minutes, booking a second-round encounter with either Lorenzo Musetti or Arthur Cazaux.

Might Rublev and Medvedev meet in the Dubai final for a first-ever all-RawQ final?