BASTAD, JUL 20 (AGENCIES): Andrey Rublev did not hang around in completing his bid for a second title at the Nordea Open in Bastad.
The No. 16 in the PIF ATP Rankings raced past Luciano Darderi, the 2025 champion at the Swedish ATP 250 event, 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday afternoon. With his 77-minute victory, Rublev ended a near-17-month wait for his 18th ATP Tour title, having lifted his previous trophy in Doha in February 2025. Rublev is now a two-time titlist in Bastad, where he also triumphed in 2023. After some tentative opening exchanges in Sunday’s championship match, the former World No. 5 Rublev reeled off five consecutive games from 4-4 to seize control. Darderi became visibly frustrated and Rublev rarely appeared in danger of relinquishing his lead, aside from when he was forced to save a break point when serving at 2-0 in the second set.
Rublev finished the final having won 87 per cent (33/38) of points behind his first serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats. The 28-year-old now leads Darderi 2-0 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series, with his previous victory against the Italian coming in Hamburg last year. After snapping his five-match losing streak against Top-20 opponents, Rublev will on Monday rise two spot to No. 14 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
