By changing the date to 2023, just between the Rolex Paris Masters and the Turin Masters, Julien Boutter knew full well that it was a double-edged sword. The director of the Moselle Open ate his black bread last year with no less than fifteen withdrawals. This year, things could well be different. For what ? Because the race for the prestigious tournament which brings together the eight best players of the year rages on and has still not delivered its verdict. There are only five to have their ticket for Piedmont: the Italian Jannik Sinner, the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, the Russian Daniil Medvedev, the German Alexander Zverev and the American Taylor Fritz. Behind, we find the Serbian Novak Djokovic who has still not announced his withdrawal or not, the Norwegian Casper Ruud, the Australian Alex de Minaur and the Russian Andrey Rublev who are in a tight spot.
A bloody player, but not only
This Tuesday afternoon, Julien Boutter had to watch with a little more attention the match between the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo and Andrey Rublev at Bercy, the second losing after two fierce decisive throws (7/6 7/ 6). Because in the process, he obtained confirmation that whoever reached the quarter-finals in the four Grand Slam tournaments would go through the Moselle if he needed additional points for the Masters in Turin. The coup is royal because the current seventh player in the world is as well known for his skills with his racket in hand as for his tantrums and his cries of rage. An example? Eleven months ago, he attacked a photographer who moved a little too much for his liking during his lost final at the Masters 1000 in Shanghai (Beijing). “Yes, he is sanguine, but he is also an endearing guy and incredibly kind,” said the former 46th world player at the peak of his career.
Winner of two tournaments in 2024, the Masters 1000 in Madrid (Spain) and the ATP 250 in Hong Kong, the 27-year-old Russian will therefore come for the first time in his career to the Moselle Open and will, for sure, be there. 'one of the attractions.
