Andrey Rublev credits mental approach after beating Jack Draper to win Qatar Open

DOHA, Qatar — Andrey Rublev credited his psychological method after beating Jack Draper 7-5, 5-7, 6-1 to win the Qatar Open for the second time Saturday.

It was Rublev’s third three-set win in three days. The Russian additionally dropped the second set in his two earlier matches towards Alex de Minaur and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

“I used to be actually good mentally and didn’t let frustration recover from me,” Rublev stated. “As quickly as I used to be annoyed, I used to be capable of restart once more and I used to be capable of play on the identical depth. That’s a very powerful factor.”

It was the seventeenth title of Rublev’s profession, having earned his first Doha trophy in 2020.

“It’s my first ever title that I received twice,” Rublev stated. “I believe each of us have been actually drained after two three-set matches that completed late. We have been exhausted and it was troublesome, however one way or the other we have been capable of play at stage. Once I misplaced the second set, I let it go and began to play extra freely.”

Rublev improved to 4-0 in his profession towards Draper.

Nonetheless, Draper will enhance to a career-high rating of No. 12 on Monday.

“We performed some powerful matches this week and within the third set he was only a bit too robust for me,” Draper stated. “I’m actually happy with my efforts this week. Each day, I get up and attempt to enhance, so it’s a testomony to my exhausting work I suppose.”