Rublev Upsets Goffin, Extends Winning Streak
Fast-rising Russian Andre Rublev rallied from a set and a break down to upset 11th seed David Goffin and reach the fourth round of the Australian Open, his second consecutive appearance in the second week of a major.
Champion in Doha and Adelaide in the first two weeks of the season, Rublev extended his winning streak with a 2-6, 7-6(3), 6-4, 7-6(5) win over the Belgian.
Goffin looked destined for an early afternoon leading 6-2, 3-1, stepping in to take the ball early but also hitting heavy himself when deeper behind the baseline. Surprisingly, the match didn’t turn on Rublev’s ability to hit more winners; he actually hit two fewer (42 to 44).
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Perhaps feeling pressure to take the fight to Rublev by being more aggressive from the baseline, Goffin made 19 more unforced errors than his opponent.
At a career-high No. 16 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, Rublev improved to 11-0 on the season and 15-0 dating back to the first of four match wins in last year’s Davis Cup Finals. Including his home title run in Moscow last October, the 22-year-old has won three of his past five tournaments.
Rublev, who reached the fourth round of the US Open last year and the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows in 2017, next meets the winner of Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco and 2018 Nitto ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev.
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