"The key is to keep improving the small details," says Rublev after his loss to Alcaraz in Cincinnati

Adrien Guyot

le 16/08/2025 à 10h32

1 min to read

Alcaraz Cincinnati Rublev

Despite putting up a strong fight, Andrey Rublev couldn’t overcome Carlos Alcaraz in Cincinnati. In a match that remained uncertain until the very end, the Russian ultimately fell (6-3, 4-6, 7-5) but can leave Ohio with his head held high.

After victories against Tien, Popyrin, and Comesaña, the world No. 11 pushed the Spaniard to his limits, just weeks after their Wimbledon round of 16 clash, which Alcaraz won in four sets. The two-time Masters 1000 champion analyzed his defeat in a press conference.

"It was a good week, a good tournament, and a good level of play from me. The key is to keep improving the small details. I think I played better today than at Wimbledon.

So, I need to keep working to refine all that and be more confident in net exchanges, short balls, and so on. I’m already playing much better, but I still let a few opportunities slip and give Carlos (Alcaraz) chances to break me.

At this level, the smallest details make the difference. At a decisive moment, an unnecessary thought crosses your mind, making you hesitate for a second, and suddenly everything becomes much more complicated.

Like in the last game—everything was going well, and then suddenly... I played well at the net, then double-faulted, and so on. At this level, these details are crucial," he told the Russian outlet Championat.