On cloud nine, Muller topples Rublev in Rome!

No one saw that one coming. Alexandre Muller, ranked 109th in the world, toppled Andrey Rublev, ranked 6th in the world (3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in 1h48). A qualifier, the 27-year-old delivered the perfect match (27 winners, 6 aces, 6 unforced errors) to eliminate a confident opponent.

Muller, who has been progressing steadily since the start of his career, is perhaps turning a corner. Up until now, the right-hander's performance in his matches with top-10 players has been very subdued, but now he's starting to believe in himself. As he said before his match, he went out there to win: "Before, when I went out there against very good players, I just hoped I wouldn't get spanked. Now, I go into a 50/50 match thinking that it's a tennis match that I can win or lose. (comments relayed by L'Equipe).
The Frenchman's perfect transition from words to deeds takes him through to the last 16 in Rome, where he will face the winner of the match between Stefano Napolitano (125th, invited by the tournament) and Nicolas Jarry (world no. 24).