The last couple of games in the second set, after Denis was broken, basically stand as a demonstration of what he is capable of. Just a tour de force, shots that all anyone could do is shake their head and say "can't do much about that". And Rublev played great tennis, yet was nonetheless blown off the court in a number of big points. Outside of Djokovic, I don't think anyone on tour right now could have withstood that onslaught.
If only Denis could get that game to work consistently. Earlier in the second set he blew a 0-40 lead to break to go up 3-2. In the game in which he was broken, he sent a ball way long on Rublev's first break chance. It's that sort of thing that is holding him back. Well done by Denis to dig in and break Rublev back, and nice dramatics at the end to win in the tie break, but it shouldn't really have gone that far.
Tough match up next... I think I might like Felix's chance of getting through better. Denis is capable of beating Tsitsipas, but it's not a great matchup for him. Still, they haven't met in over a year, and Denis won the last meeting, so, fingers crossed he plays well and takes it.
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