Andrey Rublev ran to his right, measured the distance to the ball and then did the unbelievable. The Wimbledon tournament’s most amazing shot came from Rublev on Sunday, who amazingly swung the ball back over the net for a forehand winner from behind the baseline, setting him a match point and a spot in the quarterfinals
“Probably it was the most lucky shot ever. It just was luck,” Rublev stated on the court after reaching the second week for the first time at the All England Club. “I don’t think I can do it one more time.”
Rublev won 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-7 (5), 6-4, taking the fifth set despite failing to convert two match points earlier in the match.
The seventh-seeded Russian became the ninth active male player to make it through to the quarterfinals at all four Grand Slams. But he has never gone further at any of them.
Rublev could face seven-time Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. Later on Sunday, the 23-time Grand Slam champion was set to face Hubert Hurkacz on Centre Court.
This is only the second year that play has been officially scheduled for the middle Sunday at Wimbledon. Previously, in 1991, 1997, 2004, and 2016, organisers used the day to deal with a backlog of matches.