French Open: 'Frustration and Fury!' - Andrey Rublev 'completely loses it' as he smashes racquets, kicks bench

Emotions were running incredibly high on Court Suzanne-Lenglen on Friday afternoon as Andrey Rublev repeatedly let rip with a number of outbursts during his fiery second-round encounter with Matteo Arnaldi at the French Open. There were concerns over whether he would be able to finish the match from the Eurosport commentators as he struggled to cool down with racquets smashed and a bench kicked.

Rublev smashes another racquet and kicks bench in 'more frustration and fury'

Video credit: TNT Sports

Andrey Rublev completely lost his composure during his third-round clash against Italy's Matteo Arnaldi on Friday afternoon in yet another dramatic moment at the 2024 French Open.

The sixth seed surprisingly lost the opening two sets of the match, 7-6(6) 6-2, and did not cope with the scoreline or his level of play particularly well as the contest moved from the fractious second to boiling point in the third.

While Arnaldi continued to pile on the pressure from the back of the court, Rublev broke a number of his racquets by smashing them on the ground, while he also kicked his bench repeatedly.

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It proved to be yet another explosion of "more frustration and fury" as Eurosport commentator Barry Millns, covering the match with Arvind Parmar, described it.

"Rublev again, completely loses it!" Millns exclaimed after a torrent of anger from the Russian in the second set.

"More frustration and fury!"

It proved to be a tough match to watch for many spectators, with Rublev seemingly unable to contain his emotions on another dank Paris day.

Rublev 'completely losing it' again as Arnaldi breaks for second-set lead

Video credit: TNT Sports

At one moment, after a particularly tense exchange with the umpire over a debatable line call, the Eurosport commentators appeared concerned that he would not cross his own line.

"Careful, Rublev!" Millns warned as he debated the call with his arm on the back of the umpire.

Parmar added: "She is not going to change her mind. There is no way you are going to convince her.

"In my view, he is overstepping the mark. Remember, you can be defaulted."

Frustration bubbling over for Rublev as he disputes line call against Arnaldi

Video credit: TNT Sports

Much has been made about fans keeping their cool while watching matches at Roland-Garros during this tournament, but on this occasion, they were the ones watching as Rublev exploded.

Later, before Arnaldi clinched a superb upset victory, Rublev repeatedly struck his racquet against his leg as Millns noted: "There is no hiding place for Rublev, sadly for him.

"It is a very public way to go completely nuts!"

Parmar added: "You actually feel for him. He just cannot control it."

'I don't remember behaving worse' at a Grand Slam, admits Rublev

The Russian said in his post-match press conference that he did not think he had behaved worse at a Grand Slam.

The No. 6 seed's exit means that he departs Roland-Garros at the third-round stage for the second consecutive year, after he was beaten by Lorenzo Sonego.

"[I am] completely disappointed with myself [and] the way I behaved, the way I performed," he said.

"I don't remember behaving worse at a Slam ever. I think it was the first time I ever behaved that badly.

"It's not about concentration. I think it's because the way I behave, I put myself completely down, and I gave Matteo wings to fly, and he was flying in the third set unbelievably. It was too late to do anything."

"I collapsed with[in] myself; I got emotional, I lost my serve, and then I lost it completely.

"I tank[ed] the second set, and then it was too late, because he start to play unbelievably. When you're doing those things, normally it's tough to come back."

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