"I feel like I have a baby girl in my stomach" - Andrey Rublev hilariously explains his condition to doctor in US Open 2R thriller, bemoans overeating
Andrey Rublev suffered from stomach issues during his five-set thriller against Arthur Rinderknech in the second round of the 2024 US Open. As the Russian received treatment, he explained his condition to the doctor in hilarious fashion.
Fighting for a place in the third round of the US Open, Rublev and Rinderknech engaged in a fiercely contested battle. Rinderknech got off to a stellar start, clinching the first and second sets to take a commanding lead in the match. However, the World No. 6 displayed his resilience by mounting an incredible comeback to dominate the third and fourth sets, forcing a decider.
Andrey Rublev's momentum was disrupted by stomach issues during the fifth set, prompting him to call for a medical timeout. The Russian described his condition to the doctor while receiving treatment, hilariously admitting that it felt like he had a "little baby girl in his stomach" as a result of eating and drinking too much.
"I drank too much, I ate too much, I feel like I have a little baby girl in my stomach," Rublev complained.
Despite the dramatic description of his condition, Rublev managed to overcome his stomach issues and claim an impressive 4-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 comeback victory after a four-hour and six-minute battle. With his win, the 26-year-old took a 3-0 lead in his head-to-head record against Rinderknech.
Andrey Rublev to take on Jiri Lehecka in US Open 3R
Following his hard-fought win over Arthur Rinderknech, Andrey Rublev will lock horns with Jiri Lehecka in the third round of the 2024 US Open. Lehecka survived a scare of his own in his second-round clash against qualifier Mitchell Krueger, mounting a comeback from two sets down to claim a 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 victory.
Rublev and Lehecka have faced off in four tour-level encounters, with both claiming two wins each. However, the Czech emerged victorious in their most recent meeting at the 2024 Indian Wells Masters, winning 6-4, 6-4.
If the World No. 6 triumphs over Lehecka, he will face the match winner between Grigor Dimitrov and Tallon Griekspoor. Meanwhile, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe and defending champion Novak Djokovic loom as the Russian's potential quarterfinal opponents.
Andrey Rublev is aiming to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam event for the first time in his career. The Russian made a run to the quarterfinals of last year's edition of the New York Major, where he suffered a straight-sets loss to eventual runner-up Daniil Medvedev.