WHAT HAPPENED: The US Open’s No. 9 seed Andrey Rublev (mostly) breezed past South Korea’s unseeded Soonwoo Kwon in a one hour, 45 minute-Round 2 match on Court 5. Final score: 6-3, 6-0, 6-4.
Ahead of Thursday's meeting, Rublev led Kwon 3-0 in career matches – all of which took place this year. The world No. 11 took down the world No. 81 in Dubai, Rotterdam and, most recently, at the French Open – where the 24-year-old Rublev eventually advanced to the quarterfinals.
Both players managed to hold serve through 2-2 during the first set, though Rublev faced a potential break point during a contentious fifth game that saw the opponents reach deuce three times. The No. 9 seed immediately broke Kwon, also 24, afterwards and wrapped up the set up at 6-3.
Rublev took complete control in the second. He bageled Kwon without even playing his best tennis – though he didn’t need to. Though Kwon put up something of a fight when serving for the first game, Rublev immediately won a break point. The Korean seemed completely overpowered during the 24-minute second set, chasing the ball and sending balls wide as Rublev blasted shots right and left.
Kwon upped his game during the decider by slowing things down, often reducing speed to increase accuracy. Rublev’s offense seemed unmanageable as Kwon lost serve at 2-2, but the Korean was undeterred. He broke right back and evened the score at 3-3. Holding serve for 4-3, Kwon finally found a good balance between agility and power.
A frustrated Rublev punched the wall when Kwon took advantage on a 4-4 deuce. But the Korean couldn't close out the game, and Rublev quickly broke for a sixth and final time before serving his way to victory.
"Especially after the first round, five sets, almost losing control many times emotionally ... I was thinking that if I'm not going to step up and take myself under control, it will be impossible to win two times," Rublev said in a post-match press conference.
WHAT IT MEANS: Rublev reached the third round of the Australian Open and the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2022. At the prestigious Indian Wells and Madrid Open tournaments, he made the semifinals and quarterfinals, respectively. The No. 9 has a very good shot at a deep run here in Queens.
Rublev will face either No. 19 seed Denis Shapovalov or Roberto Carballes Baena in Round 3, and then potentially No. 7 seed Cameron Norrie of Great Britain or No. 28 seed Holger Rune of Denmark in Round 4.
With 83% of first-serve points won and a serve that reached 132 mph in Thursday’s match, Rublev will continue to be a threat at the 2022 US Open for however long he remains in the draw.
MATCH POINT: Shortly after exiting the 2021 US Open in the third round, Rublev reached his personal-best ATP ranking of world No. 5. He is currently ranked No. 11 by the ATP, less than 250 points off No. 10 Hubert Hurkacz of Poland.
By advancing to Round 3 this year, Rublev has ensured he won’t lose any ranking points – and should crack the Top 10 again after this tournament.
