ATP
Rublev in a rush after abbreviated Basel prep
Andrey Rublev admitted that he felt rushed after less than two days of practice for the ATP Swiss Indoors – but the top seed managed nicely as he opened with a 6-3, 6-2 victory on Monday into the second round.
The top seed playing the event for the first time, defeated Portuguese No. 1 Nuno Borges despite his condensed schedule after arriving at the weekend from Stockholm.
He advanced in 64 minutes at the event dominated for years by hometowner Roger Federer.
Rublev advanced with 21 winners and 20 unforced errors and kept his often-volatile temper in check; he broke four times from 10 chances..
“I didn’t know what to expect, I had less than two days of training. Sometimes that’s not enough.
“But when I began playing I felt good. At the end I managed to win and that’s the most important thing.”