"After every match, I was like a dead man," Rublev reflects on his long battle with depression

Andrey Rublev is at the center of the documentary 'Breaking Back' (available since Sunday), where he discusses his prolonged depression that affected him on the court in recent seasons.

Among the most striking episodes, Rublev self-harmed with his racket at Roland-Garros in 2024 and again at Paris-Bercy at the end of the season, raising concerns among tennis observers and fans. He revisited the topic for the ATP after breaking his silence earlier this year:

"It feels like you’re dying. As if someone has come to kill you. And what can you do? You’re at the peak of your stress. You try everything to save your life.

After every match, I was like a dead man. I would spend a week in a room, depressed, feeling like it was the end of the world. I reached a point where I was completely lost within myself. I had no escape, I didn’t know what I was doing, who I was, or why I was alive."

Rublev, who has dropped to 14th in the world rankings, will face Laslo Djere in his opening match at Wimbledon.