Andrey Rublev praised his inner calmness as he reached the Los Cabos semi-finals.
The world number ten came back from a set and a break down to defeat Emilio Nava 5-7 6-4 6-3 and progress to the last four in Mexico.
It was Rublev’s 23rd win of the season so far as he converted four of 11 break points to seal his place in the semi-finals.
After the match Rublev said that his inner calmness was the reason why he mounted a big comeback in Los Cabos, “I think two things [helped me]. Firstly, I stayed calm, and secondly, I just tried to be focused and stay there,” Rublev was quoted by the ATP tour as saying.
“At least if I deserved to lose today, [I wanted] to give 100 per cent focus, because you never know what can happen, and in the end, it paid off. I was there, I was focused, and in a crucial moment [in the second set] I was able to break back. Then the match started to change.”
Rublev has been known for lacking emotional control in the past so this is a big step forward as he aims to continue his good form from Wimbledon where he tested Carlos Alcaraz.
Next up for Rublev is Aleksandar Kovacevic with the American leading their head-to-head 1-0.
While the first semi-final in Los Cabos will see Denis Shapovalov take on Adam Walton with Shapovalov yet to lose a set this week.
