Andrey Rublev captured his fourth tour-level title of the season on Sunday when he overcame Sebastian Korda 6-2, 6-3 in the Gijon Open final.
In an entertaining clash, the top seed played aggressively to pull Korda from corner to corner. Rublev struck 29 winners, broke his opponent’s serve three times and committed just four unforced errors to triumph after 77 minutes.
“I am really happy and really grateful,” Rublev said. “To win a title is always a special feeling because all the players are working to win a title and play the best tournaments. To win one more title here in my career is really important for me. All the weeks are important for me because I am fighting for the [Nitto ATP] Finals.”
The 24-year-old has boosted his Nitto ATP Finals qualifications chances by lifting the trophy in Gijon. Rublev is currently sixth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin as he aims to compete at the prestigious end-of-year event – to be held from 13-20 November – for the third consecutive season.
“It would be a really amazing feeling [to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals] because this is the tournament players are dreaming of playing,” Rublev said. “To qualify for three years in a row will be really important for me.”
Rublev enjoyed a strong week at the hard-court event in Spain, defeating Ilya Ivashka, Tommy Paul and Dominic Thiem en route to the final. He then played with confidence against Korda, outlasting the 22-year-old in heavy-hitting exchanges to secure his 47th tour-level win of the year. He now leads the American 2-0 in their ATP Head2Head series.
Earlier this season, Rublev lifted titles in Marseille, Dubai and Belgrade. He has now captured 12 tour-level crowns in his career.
Korda was aiming to win his second tour-level trophy and first of the season, having triumphed in Parma in 2021. He is up to No. 36 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings following his run to the final.