Andrey Rublev’s recent appearance at the 2024 Moselle Open in Metz took an unexpected turn, leaving a trail of frustration and controversy. After a single match, the Russian tennis star withdrew from the tournament, sparking backlash from opponent Lorenzo Sonego and igniting debate about sportsmanship and fair play.
Rublev entered Metz as the top seed and received a first-round bye, automatically advancing to the second round. There, he defeated Sonego in straight sets, 7-6(3), 7-5. But almost immediately after clinching his victory, Rublev withdrew, citing an injury—an announcement that granted a walk-over for Corentin Moutet to the semi-finals.
The timing of Rublev’s exit left Sonego outraged. Speaking to Italian publication Ubitennis, the Italian accused Rublev of knowingly occupying a spot in Metz with no intention of finishing the tournament. Sonego’s frustration was clear: “Rublev didn’t act very fairly. There are people who go to tournaments to play and try to do well, people who want to advance. He took the spot from a lucky loser.”
Sonego claimed Rublev’s actions robbed him of a fair shot at progressing in the tournament, saying, “He took away my chance to move forward in the tournament when he already knew he wasn’t going to play. It wasn’t very fair or respectful toward me.”
Adding fuel to the fire, Sonego alleged that Rublev arrived at the arena with his suitcases already packed. “His coach had told him he’d be leaving before the match. They already knew they were leaving; he even showed up on court with his suitcases. It wasn’t a nice thing for us players who put our heart into moving forward in a tournament, while he doesn’t care at all about it,” Sonego stated.
Rublev’s withdrawal came amid a race for ATP Finals spots, with himself, Casper Ruud, and Alex de Minaur vying for last-minute qualification. But when Novak Djokovic announced he would not participate, all three players secured their spots at the ATP Finals without needing additional points. De Minaur subsequently withdrew from the Belgrade Open, while Rublev played only his opening match in Metz before his abrupt exit.
Fans and commentators are split over the incident. On one hand, Rublev did secure a fair win over Sonego. But on the other, his alleged disinterest in Metz’s later rounds has left some questioning whether players should enter tournaments solely as tune-ups for larger events.
As the ATP Finals kick off, Rublev’s contested withdrawal in Metz underscores the fine line between strategic planning and sportsmanship. It’s a debate that will likely linger, sparking questions over fairness in professional tennis.
