Andrey Rublev came back from two sets down for the first time in his career to battle past US Sam Querrey 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 6-4 6-3 on Court Simonne Mathieu in cold and damp conditions in Paris after three hours and 17 minutes reaching the second round at Roland Garros.
Rublev secured his first win at Roland Garros just two days after clinching his third title of the year in Hamburg, where he beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final. The 22-year-old Russian player has improved his win-loss record this year to 26-6.
Querrey got an early break to open up to a 3-0 lead in the opening set. Rublev fended off set points at 3-5 30-40 before breaking back in the ninth game to draw level to 5-5. Rublev saved another break point at 5-6 30-40 to force the set to the tie-break. Querrey held on to win the tie-break 7-5.
Querrey went up a double break to race out to a 4-0 lead after 11 minutes in the second set before Rublev held serve at 15. The Russian player reeled off 13 straight points from 1-5 to draw level to 5-5 with two consecutive breaks. Querrey fended off two set points at 5-6 at deuce and closed out the second set 7-4 with an ace.
Querrey got another break in the fourth game of the third set after a five-minute delay due to rain to open up a 5-2 lead. Rublev came back by winning five consecutive games to win the third set 7-5 forcing the match to the fourth set, when Querrey hit a backhand return long.
Rublev got a break in the third game of the fourth set and sealed it at love with an ace after dropping just four of his service points.
Rublev broke again in the third game of the fifth set and held on his service games. The world number 13 player sealed the win with a double break with a drop shot and a forehand crosscourt winner.
Rublev has improved his win-loss record to 3-1 in his four head-to-head matches against Querrey.
