Rublev Powers Through Shoulder Pain at Monte-Carlo Masters Opener With Honest Post-Match Revelation
Andrey Rublev’s first-round victory at the Monte-Carlo Masters came at a significant physical cost. The Russian tennis star battled through a painful shoulder injury during his opening match against Nuno Borges, eventually prevailing in three sets. However, it was his candid admission after the match that truly grabbed headlines and left fans and pundits concerned about his tournament prospects.
Rublev openly acknowledged that the pain was severe enough to make him consider walking off the court entirely. Instead, he chose to fight on — both mentally and physically — relying on treatment and what he himself described as a “horse dose of painkillers” to get through the contest.
Andrey Rublev Fights Through Shoulder Pain to Overcome Nuno Borges in Monte-Carlo Opener
From the very start of the match, Rublev appeared slightly off. Things took a more serious turn midway through the first set, when he began experiencing noticeable discomfort in his shoulder while serving. Shortly after, he stepped off the court to receive a medical timeout, a rare move for a player of his caliber in an early-round encounter.
Despite the setback, Rublev showed tremendous grit to take the opening set 6-4. But the second set told a very different story. His timing suffered, his movement slowed, and Borges capitalised brilliantly on his opponent’s physical limitations to claim the set 6-1 with relative ease.
At that stage, it genuinely seemed like Rublev’s campaign at Monte-Carlo could be over before it properly began. Yet, in a remarkable turnaround, the 2023 Monte-Carlo champion dug deep and rediscovered his best tennis in the decider, wrapping up the final set 6-1 to seal the win in just over two hours.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Rublev was refreshingly transparent about the emotional and physical battle he endured on court. “Obviously, I think today was exactly a mental victory for me, because in one moment, I thought, okay, it’s done. And then I was able to kind of, okay, let’s just accept it, let’s just kind of trust,” he revealed.
He continued with genuine emotion, adding, “In the end, somehow, out of nowhere, I start to feel better. I was able to fight again, to play better, and in the end, I was able to win a match.” It was a rare glimpse into the psychological struggle elite athletes face when their bodies begin to fail them mid-competition.
Rublev was also precise about when the injury first flared up. “When I came back from the changeover at 4-3, when I went for a serve, I start to feel it a little bit. After the first serve that I did, I start to feel it much more,” he explained, shedding light on just how quickly the situation deteriorated.
The comment that truly caught everyone off guard, however, came when he was asked about his physical condition during the match. With a laugh, Rublev casually admitted, “The body feeling? I don’t know, because I took a horse dose of painkillers and a medical timeout.” The remark drew both amusement and genuine concern from those listening.
Looking ahead, Rublev faces Zizou Bergs in his next match, and the Russian himself admitted he remains uncertain about how his body will hold up in the coming hours. That level of uncertainty, combined with the physical demands of clay-court tennis, makes his situation all the more precarious.
Monte-Carlo has historically been a happy hunting ground for Rublev, with his 2023 title triumph standing as one of the defining moments of his career. He has consistently delivered strong performances at this event over the years. But his most pressing opponent this week is not standing across the net — it is the injury that could derail everything if it doesn’t respond to treatment in time.