Sorry, Not Sorry: Andrey Rublev takes Shanghai by storm, charms opponents and fans

Andrey Rublev is steaming the competition at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, but not even his opponents can stay mad at “Lu Bao.”

The No. 5 seed reverted to his inimitably sheepish self after a 6-3, 6-0 demolition of Adrian Mannarino, striking an unbelievable 30 winners to snap the Astana Open champion’s five-match winning streak in 62 minutes flat.

“Sorry man,” Rublev told Mannarino at net. “I played unreal today.”

Rublev is looking to end a breakthrough 2023 season, one that saw him finally capture a Masters 1000 title in Monte Carlo, with a fourth straight appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals. Ranked fifth in the ATP Race rankings, the 25-year-old is the highest ranked man yet to qualify.

“I don't really have a goal set, to be honest,” he said after winning his first round against Quentin Halys over the weekend. “The goal is to improve, to be better as a player. Then if—somehow—I can win big titles, even better. If not, keep working.”

That honesty has made him a fan favorite in China, where he is playing for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic suspended nearly all international sporting events in 2020. A fun interview with had him admitting he is still “learning how to enjoy life outside the court.

“For me, it’s not easy,” he said before signing a t-shirt that featured the infamous “Rublev Cat” meme.

If off-court enjoyment remains elusive, can Rublev continue his time on court enough to capture a second Masters title in Shanghai?