Article by Luminița Paul – Published on Sunday, 03 August 2025, 17:00 / Updated Sunday, 03 August 2025 17:01
Russian Andrey Rublev (27 years old, number 11 ATP), qualified in the “optimals” of Masters 1000 from Toronto, told his opinion about the speed, respectively the surface of the surfaces and what kind of tennis he likes. He did not hesitate to choose the second option and explained why.
The debate related to fast land versus slow lands returns periodically in world tennis. Many people, including former players, spectators, analysts, notice the slowing down of the land everywhere, which has led to the homogenization of the surfaces.
It all starts from the technological advance, the physical condition and the superior strength of the players compared to 10-20 years ago. To counteract these aspects, a variant is that of slow balls, neutral surfaces.
In the Masters 1000 category tournament in Toronto, however, the extreme at the other end of the spectrum is seen: the blue carpet on which it is played is among the most awesome.
Andrey Rublev, the finalist of the past edition, when he was defeated on Australian Alexey Popyrin, was drawn to this discussion in the Tennis Channel, where the interviewer exposed his point of view, one in favor of fast land.
Andrey Rublev: “On slow land you see more clear tactics”
“I like the faster surfaces, because sometimes, when the lands are all the same, see long exchanges in which players are looking for similar openings. There is a strategy, of course, because you are on the back line, but it seems to me that on faster you see a little more variety. You can see a bit of service, a bit of the attack, a bit of the attack, of course. the moderator.
The former world number 5 came immediately with his own vision. “For me it is the exact opposite. As a spectator, I like tennis more on the slower surfaces. And at Wimbledon, it is assumed to be fast grass but you have a lot more exchanges there“, He supported his cause.
“And you are happy to see how the players get to those points and at those times when they defend themselves, how they play, how to think about the ball and then the one trying to dictate … and on slow land you see more clearly, the physical condition, the tactics, the speed, how they accelerate, how to move their feet …”, continued Rublev.
Then he gave an example from the Toronto tournament, the one between Daniil Medvedev and Alexey Popyrin, from the second round, won by Australian 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 32 minutes.
Alexey Popyrin at work at Toronto Photo: Imago Images
“I was watching the match between Daniil and Alexey. And I don't know, it was only bum, bum. Even when Daniil is this type of player with whom you normally play a lot of long points … Instead, there were a lot of service, service, you look 10 minutes and you can see one or two exchanges. The rest is a service-grade or service-recture-grinding”, Rublev ended his argument.
