The tournament in Marseille turned out to be doubly successful for Andrei Rublev.
He not only won the singles title, winning the ninth title in his career, but also won the doubles duet with Ukrainian Denis Molchanov.
The Russian had enough strength for both types.
In the first, he consistently turned out to be stronger than three Frenchmen at once, Richard Gasquet, Luca Puy and Benjamin Bonzi.
In the final, he defeated the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in two sets - 7:5, 7:6.
However, the native of Moscow did not have time to celebrate the success, because in just a few hours he was waiting for a decisive meeting with the South African Raven Klaasen and the Japanese Ben McLachlan.
This confrontation turned out to be difficult for the Ukrainian-Russian couple.
They lost the first game, and in the second, with great difficulty, they restored the balance in the account.
As a result, the fate of the trophy was decided on the championship tiebreak, in which Molchanov and Rublev were stronger - 10:7.
After the match ended, they warmly embraced and posed for photographs together.
And journalists, of course, could not help but ask both of them why they agreed to play together despite the strained relations between the two countries.
“We are ordinary people, we are not involved in politics, but in sports.
Sports bring people together: fans support their team and their players.
After all, we are going through this time together.
Everything is simple.
Peace to all,” said Rublev.
In turn, Molchanov called the victory in Marseille a special moment and thanked the Russian for his help.
“I have been involved in this sport for quite a long time and for me this is a significant title.
I have won many Challengers, but this victory is something else.
When we were younger, Rublev and I trained in the same place.
At first I helped Andrei, and now Andrei is helping me, ”the Ukrainian emphasized.
Rublev and Molchanov in France really proved to be a well-coordinated duet with a masculine character and willpower.
They won all four meetings only in the championship tie-break, and in two, having lost in the first set, they found the strength to turn their course.
At the same time, tennis players are no strangers to going out on the court together.
For example, in 2015 they won the tournament in Dallas.
In general, they have always been united by warm relations, and at the beginning of his career, the Ukrainian even helped his partner, who is ten years younger, to get used to the tour.
Now he helped him win the title in Marseille.
The joint victory of the duo caused exceptionally positive emotions in Russia.
So, the three-time winner of the Grand Slam Tournaments in doubles Elena Vesnina admitted that she was not surprised by the decision of the athletes to play together.
“Believe me, tennis players who play in the ATP and WTA do not divide each other at all on a national basis.
We all continue to communicate in the same way as we did before.
Andrey and Denis have known each other for many years and have repeatedly gone to the court together.
It remains only to congratulate them on their victory, and Rublev on the golden double in Marseille.
It's great that the guys continue to communicate and do not mix what is happening in the world with personal relationships, ”Vesnina said in an interview with RT.
According to her, it is important for athletes to do such things in order to set the right example for people.
“Unfortunately, many believe obscure media and sources that claim that we are all enemies and hate each other.
The example of Rublev and Molchanov, who did not change their relationship due to geopolitics, demonstrates that we remain one people and must live together and coexist in peace.
Surely, the gesture of the guys may anger some politicians, but it can inspire many, ”added Vesnina.
In turn, the well-known coach Andrei Chesnokov also assured that political tension does not affect the relations of rivals on the tour.
“Tennis players communicate normally with each other.
In the morning they come, have breakfast together, sit at the same table.
There is no aggression and hatred between them and close.
But, of course, stuff happens.
About five years ago, I met at Roland Garros with a former Ukrainian tennis player Andrey Medvedev.
Hello.
He asked: "Crimea is ours"?
He answered: “Andrey, even if I say that it’s yours, will it decide something”?
It seems that then we talked normally, ”Chesnokov noted.
According to the specialist, Rublev and Molchanov are primarily athletes and came to Marseille to play, and not to discuss political contradictions.
“They took the title and made both countries happy.
In my opinion, it's great when Ukraine and Russia win victories together.
Their success shows that not everywhere there is a war.
She has no place on the tennis court.
Friendship and mutual understanding reign here,” the coach added.
State Duma deputy, Olympic speed skating champion Svetlana Zhurova also welcomed the decision of Rublev and Molchanov to play together.
“It's great when sport is above politics.
I was very pleased with this move.
Do we have at least somewhere the first steps in cooperation?
I could not imagine how the Ukrainian side went for it ... I am for the same actions that our tennis player and Ukrainian did.
This is absolutely normal.
That's the way it should be.
Sports are out of politics.
Two athletes decided to play together and won, ”Sport24 quotes Zhurova.