“This word is one that triggers me in a good way,” said Rublev, later explaining, “You can only take responsibility for yourself, and I put that word to remind myself that I’m the one, and if something bad happens to me, it’s not because of luck. It’s because I made a mistake and it’s my fault. Even if someone did something bad to you, it’s still your fault the situation happened. You cannot blame anything or anyone, so this is to remind myself not to complain.”
Perhaps it’s unsurprising that Rublev is as intense about mental health as everything else, but the Russian insists he’s in a much better headspace after hitting rock bottom last year.
“I’m not in a good or bad place, but I’m not feeling any more stress, not having depression,” he said. “I’m just neutral, not happy, not bad. At least I found the base, and that’s a beginning.”
Rublev will begin his Dubai campaign in doubles with childhood friend Karen Khachanov on Monday.
