WATCH: Rublev to work on mental strength in 2020

DOHA—Andrey Rublev is growing into his own in 2020, and it's been just over a week. The 22-year-old says he's working on being mentally tough this season, as he looks to rise inside the Top 20 for the first time.

"That I will become strong mentally, hopefully, finally," the world No. 23 said of his 2020 hopes. "That I'll be more mature and I will be a little bit more professional."

This week at the Qatar Open, Rublev is the No. 2 seed, and opened with a 6-4, 6-2 win over veteran Mikhail Kukushkin.

"Today was more mental match," Rublev said. "Both of us was not really feeling the ball as normally we can feel, so it was more about mental."

So it looks like he's already making efforts toward his 2020 plan. Over five years since turning pro, Rublev was one of the many highly-touted Next Gen stars on the tour, but injuries hindered him in both 2018 (back) and 2019 (wrist). He still managed to rise up the ranks, and ended 2019 by winning his home title in Moscow and going undefeated in Davis Cup action.

Samer Al-Rejjal

Rublev was not pleased to miss out on the ATP Cup as the third-best Russian behind Daniil Medvedev and Karen Khachanov.

"It's not easy with the ATP Cup. I think maybe they need to change something because this is not fair," he said. "I think I'm not talking only from my position, but when the guys like me who is 20-something in the world and half of the countries I would be No. 1 and almost all other countries I would be No. 2."

Rublev will just have to make the most of his opportunities in Doha, as he gets set to face Pierre-Hugues Herbert on Thursday.