Australian Open: Andrey Rublev no longer saw the point of living

Even though he won, to everyone’s surprise, the Masters 1000 in Madrid, Andrey Rublev (ATP 9) was more talked about for his escapades than for his results in 2024. In March, he was disqualified at Dubai after yelling at a referee while in October, in Paris, he hit himself until he bled. Not to mention all the broken rackets during the season.

“At first, when I watched these videos again, I felt bad, because I’m not that kind of person,” the Russian explained to The Guardian before his entry into contention at the Australian Open. Now, by understanding myself better, I am more relaxed. When I see them again, it’s as if it was in a past life, it’s no longer me.”

Andrey Rublev refers to the depression he has been battling for months. He says he hit rock bottom after his first-round elimination at Wimbledon in July. “I arrived at the worst time of my life in terms of self-perception. It’s the worst moment I’ve ever experienced.”

He continues with strong words: “After this defeat, I no longer saw the point of living. This may sound a bit dramatic, but the thoughts in my head were killing me, creating a lot of anxiety, and I couldn’t take it anymore. I was starting to feel a little bipolar.”

It was at this moment that the former world number 5 decided to take control of his life. He stopped taking his antidepressants, which he said were not helping him at all. He began working with a psychologist on the advice of Marat Safin, his compatriot winner of two Grand Slam tournaments.

“I’m learning a lot about myself and even though I don’t feel in the right mood or in the state of happiness I’d like to be in, I no longer feel that anxiety and stress of not knowing what to do next. my life,” he said.

Andrey Rublev admits to feeling much better today. This did not prevent him from being soundly beaten in the first round of the Australian Open by the young Brazilian nugget, Joao Fonseca (18 years old, ATP 112).

Depressed, anxious, or worried about a·e close?