Rublev tells ATP ‘this cannot happen’ after arguing ‘bull****’ rumours

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Andrey Rublev has called for the ATP to dispel “bulls*** rumours” after it was reported that his ATP Finals success was down to a bizarre diet of cappuccinos and shrimp. The world No 7 joked that it was “unacceptable” for the tournament restaurant to allow rumours that could hurt players’ reputations.

Rublev is through to the semi-final at the ATP Finals for the first time in three attempts, sealing his place with a 3-6 6-3 6-2 victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas on Friday. And after the match, the 25-year-old was questioned about a special diet he had reportedly been using to boost his chances in Turin.

“I just wanna make sure this is right, the key to your success this week, your diet has been cappuccinos and shrimp,” he was asked during a post-match interview on Tennis Channel. And the 12-time title winner was very passionate in his response as he quickly shut down the rumours.

“This is a bulls*** on another level,” Rublev laughed. “[The] ATP have to do something because it’s unacceptable.” The sixth seed in Turin cleared up the reports as he confirmed he was drinking coffee as normal but denied that he had suddenly become dedicated to eating shrimp.

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He continued: “I mean I’m like a normal person, I’m drinking cappuccinos, but the things that they were writing there is another level.” And the semi-finalist joked that the tour needed to step in to save their reputation and stop fans believing that all they served in the tournament restaurant was shrimp.

“And I think ATP should do something because it cannot happen in the restaurant in a tennis tournament,” he laughed. “My diet for sure is not good but it’s not that bad that they show there.”

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The world No 7 also had a different theory about why he had been able to make it out of the group stage for the first time, after he started the week by joking about the fact that he didn’t belong in the Red Group along the only former champions in the draw – Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev and Tsitsipas – just to make it to his first semi-final.

“I guess I need to be more like this,” he joked after reflecting on his lack of confidence after being drawn to meet the three former champions. “When I’m too serious and I want it too much then fire and explosion on the court is coming.”

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