Andrey Rublev produced a masterclass in power tennis to cruise into the fourth round of the US Open with a comprehensive straight-sets victory over France's Benjamin Bonzi.
The Russian eighth seed needed just one hour and 33 minutes to dismantle his opponent 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-4 on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows, demonstrating why he remains one of the most formidable competitors on the ATP Tour.
Dominant Display From Russian Star
Rublev's performance was nothing short of clinical. The 26-year-old unleashed his trademark powerful groundstrokes from the baseline, consistently pushing Bonzi deep behind the court and controlling the tempo of the match from the outset.
His serve proved particularly devastating, firing down 13 aces and winning 84% of points behind his first serve. This relentless pressure prevented Bonzi from ever finding his rhythm or establishing any meaningful foothold in the contest.
Tie-Break Tension Briefly Interrupts Rublev's Flow
The only moment of concern for Rublev came in the second set when Bonzi mounted a brief resurgence. The Frenchman managed to force a tie-break, creating tension among the New York crowd.
However, Rublev's superior big-match experience shone through as he raised his level when it mattered most, clinching the tie-break 7-5 to take a commanding two-set lead that effectively ended the contest as a competitive spectacle.
All-Russian Showdown Looms in Fourth Round
Rublev's victory sets up a blockbuster fourth-round clash against fellow Russian and former champion Daniil Medvedev. This highly anticipated matchup promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of the sport's hardest hitters.
Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, presents a significantly greater challenge than Bonzi, and their head-to-head record stands at 5-2 in Medvedev's favour. However, Rublev will take confidence from his dominant performance and impressive current form.
The winner of this all-Russian showdown will advance to the quarter-finals of the final Grand Slam of the year, keeping their hopes alive of capturing the prestigious title in New York.
