Wimbledon 2023: Andrey Rublev beats Alexander Bublik to reach quarters for first time, Jannik Sinner also through

Andrey Rublev saw off Alexander Bublik in a five-set thriller 7-5 6-3 6-7(6) 6-7(5) 6-4 to progress into the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time, in a match that contained an astonishing point in the final game. After not featuring last year at SW19 due to the ban on Russian and Belarusian players, it has been quite the comeback for the seventh seed, who has beaten Aslan Karatsev, David Goffin and now Bublik on his route to the last eight. Ad Discussing the remarkable rally that took him to 40-15 in the last game, Rublev said on court: «It was the most lucky shot ever! WimbledonRublev and Zverev progress on action-packed day at Wimbledon06/07/2023 AT 15:22 »It was luck, nothing else.

I don't think I can do it one more time. «I was just thinking it doesn't matter, I lost the third set and fourth set. I said if I keep playing I would have one chance, and in the end I had it, played a really good volley and was able to break him.

»Every set I had chances, on match point he served full power. I kept thinking just keep playing, don't start to explode before the match is over. In the end I was able to make it." The entirety of the encounter on Centre Court was closely contested, with Bublik keeping pace with his higher-ranked opponent in the opening set.

But just when a tie-break looked on the cards, the Kazakh faltered, getting broken as Rublev took it 7-5. The second set took on a hue that had been perhaps more anticipated, with the world No. 7 breaking once to take it 6-3.