Andrey Rublev became just the fourth player this year to earn 20 ATP Masters 1000 match wins when he brushed aside Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals at the Rolex Paris Masters on Thursday.
The fifth seed was at his devastating best against the Dutchman, hammering 18 winners and committing just four unforced errors to advance to his 12th tour-level quarter-final of the season after 65 minutes.
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Rublev captured his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Monte-Carlo earlier this year and holds a 20-7 record at this level in 2023. Only Carlos Alcaraz (25), Daniil Medvedev (25) and Jannik Sinner (21) have earned more wins at Masters 1000 events in 2023.
“Today it went my way,” Rublev said. “Early breaks gave me some confidence. From one set up you play with more freedom and then with a break in the second more free. Then you can go for even more.”
Rublev, who will compete at the Nitto ATP Finals later this month, will continue his quest for a third title of the year when he faces 13th seed Alex de Minaur in the last eight.
Rublev Rolling 🔥@AndreyRublev97 smashes his way into @RolexPMasters 1/4’s with ⬆️aggression and big #ShotQuality👏
For context, Rublev’s 52-week averages:#InAttack 23%
Fh #ShotQuality 8.3
Bh #ShotQuality 7.5#TennisInsights | #RolexPMasters pic.twitter.com/Gntqh67LIx
— Tennis Insights (@tennis_insights) November 2, 2023
World No. 4 Jannik Sinner withdrew ahead of his match with de Minaur due to fatigue. The Italian won a lengthy three-set battle that finished at 2:37 a.m. this morning with American Mackenzie McDonald. De Minaur remains in the hunt for a place at the Nitto ATP Finals.
In other action, Grigor Dimitrov backed up his standout win against Daniil Medvedev with a 6-2, 6-2 triumph against Alexander Bublik. The Bulgarian has now advanced to two Masters 1000 quarter-finals this year, having reached the semi-finals in Shanghai last month.
The 32-year-old’s best result in Paris was a semi-final run in 2019. He will aim to match that feat when he takes on Hubert Hurkacz or Francisco Cerundolo on Friday.
Photo Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour