Andrey Rublev, who is currently World No. 15, is one of the top players competing at the 2025 French Open. The two-time quarter-finalist will try to improve his record in majors, reaching a semifinal for the first time this year.
As he prepares for his second-round match in Paris, he was asked to build his perfect player. While he mentioned all the members of the Big Three, he left out current World No. 1, Jannik Sinner.
In an interview with TNT Sport, Rublev revealed he would choose between Nick Kyrgios or Reilly Opelka for serve. He chose Novak Djokovic, who is aiming for a 25th major title in Paris, for both return and backhand.
Meanwhile, he went with French Open defending champion Carlos Alcaraz for forehand and footwork, as he believes he is the fastest player on tour. Finally, he picked Roger Federer’s volley and, unsurprisingly, Rafael Nadal’s mental strength.
Rublev aims to return to the Top 10
The 27-year-old Russian has been struggling with consistency in this start of the season. The former World No. 5, reached in 2021, has won only one title this year, in Doha. He defeated Jack Draper in the final.
However, he was eliminated in the first round of the Australian Open by Joao Fonseca, and struggled this clay season with early exits in Montecarlo, Roma, Barcelona and Madrid. In the latter, he was the defending champion.
He has been working with former World No. 1 and two-time major champion, Marat Safin, during the clay season. Next in Roland Garros, Rublev will face Australian Adam Walton in the second round on Thursday.