Andrey Rublev was eager to move beyond the 2024 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships default incident as he spoke positively about his return to the tournament.
“It’s all forgotten,” the world No. 3 said ahead of his first-round match against Quentin Halys. “I haven’t thought about it until you just asked now.”
Rublev was defaulted from the 2024 semifinals after an outburst towards a lines official during a third-set clash with Alexander Bublik, resulting in a $36,400 fine. However, the Russian insisted that the incident no longer bothered him.
“I hope it’s all forgotten,” he added, “but honestly, it hasn’t bothered me. I haven’t been losing sleep or worrying about matches. It didn’t really affect me. Things happen sometimes—sometimes you cross the line, and they punish you fairly. Sometimes, they punish you unfairly. And sometimes, you cross the line, and no one notices. That’s life.”
Reflecting on the ups and downs in his career, Rublev acknowledged struggling for months after the default, but he rebounded to win the Mutua Madrid Masters in May.
“I was in a loop, lost with myself for a couple of years,” he admitted. “I wasn’t finding my way, not understanding what to do, or even the reason for living. When this happens for months or even years, it starts to feel unbearable, like a pain that keeps growing.”
Rublev, who revealed he had taken anti-depressants for a year, credits a conversation with former world No. 1 Marat Safin for helping him shift his mindset.
“The main thing is to be honest with yourself,” Rublev emphasized. “I thought I was being honest, but I realized I was lying to myself about many things. You need someone to help you see things clearly, which helps you be honest with others.”
This new perspective has influenced both his on-court demeanor and his off-court mentality. Inspired by NBA star Steph Curry, Rublev now sports the word “Responsibility” on his K-Swiss shoes as a reminder that he’s in control of his own actions and outcomes.
“That word triggers me in a good way,” he explained. “I remind myself that whatever happens is my responsibility. Even if something bad happens because of someone else, I have to take responsibility for how the situation unfolds.”
Rublev’s approach to mental health is equally intense. After experiencing a tough period last year, he feels much more balanced.
“I’m not in a good or bad place, I’m just neutral,” he said. “I’ve found my base, and that’s the beginning. It’s all about balance—if you don’t have balance with yourself, everything else will fall apart. You need to have a solid foundation before you can build anything else.”
Rublev will begin his Dubai campaign in doubles alongside childhood friend Karen Khachanov on Monday.