Gaston the unconventional one to throw the Rublev robot off?

The Frenchman’s game is really unusual and could break Rublev’s rhythm and offer him something different, but I feel like it’ll be all or nothing.

Big win for Gaston against Faria in a high-level match where the Frenchman ended up winning mainly on the physical side, but he has nothing to be ashamed of in terms of the level of tennis he produced. I really loved his performance. He’s very focused right now and doesn’t give up sets mentally. He’s smoothing out his little lapses. We’ve clearly identified that he’s on the rise. It’s a good win for him. Unfortunately, the draw isn’t great and he gets Rublev, who already gave him a real beating last year, but the Russian hasn’t been at his best for a few weeks and Gaston will have nothing to lose. Maybe with his game, he’s got a chance to make the Russian lose his grip.

Yes, except that Rublev has just put in a perfect performance in his opening match against Hijikata, who’s actually been pretty tough to beat this season. Rublev played his best tennis and the conditions suit him perfectly. If he starts gaining confidence and getting back to his top level, then for me, Gaston isn’t in the same weight class. I’d also say that the Frenchman’s playing style isn’t the one that bothers Rublev the most. In general, there are profiles that are much more difficult for Rublev, and I don’t think he minds having to dictate the play all the time against Gaston. Sure, the Frenchman could wear him down and drag him into a less comfortable area for him, but there’s also a scenario where Rublev’s intensity and aggressiveness cause too much damage.