With Roland Garros underway, Rublev edges Tsitsipas for Hamburg title

On the same day Roland Garros kicked off its 2020 edition, Andrey Rublev picked up his first ATP 500 title in Hamburg, with a dramatic, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 win over second-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas.

While the last point—a Tsitsipas double fault—wasn't dramatic on its own, you'd never have known it from Rublev's reaction. (See video above.)

“It is an amazing feeling [to win an ATP 500 title],” said Rublev. “I realized it only when they called double fault… a few seconds later I started to realize that it is over and I won. It is an amazing feeling. I am happy.”

In a rare, if not unprecedented, tour-level final held at the same time as a Grand Slam first round, the Russian made a dramatic comeback, having trailed the Greek 5-3 in the third. Tsitsipas, who was seeded No. 2 at the event, served for the match at 5-4, but Rublev stepped up his game to deny him.

Three games later, Rublev earned his third title of the season and became the second Russian to capture the Hamburg Open—Nikolay Davydenko won the title in 2009.

“The match was such a thriller. [In the] third set he was twice with the break,” said Rublev. “I was a little bit lucky at 5-4… and I broke back. I think that was a little bit mental. I think maybe Stefanos got a little disappointed inside that he didn’t make it and then at the end everything was so fast and I won.”

Hoping to carry the momentum, Rublev is off to the French Open to begin his campaign against Sam Querrey on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Tsitsipas is set to open against Jaume Munar.