Andrey Rublev became the first Russian player to qualify for the second round of Wimbledon after defeating Australian Max Purcell, ranked 64, with a score of 6-3, 7-5, and 6-4 on Monday. Rublev is among 17 players from Russia and Belarus competing in the singles events at the ongoing tournament, following their participation ban in the 2022 edition due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Last year, Wimbledon was the only one of the four Grand Slam tournaments to prohibit players from Russia and Belarus, leading to a joint decision by the ATP and WTA to cancel ranking points for that edition.
As part of their return this year as neutral players, they were required to sign a pledge not to support President Vladimir Putin's regime. Rublev displayed great confidence on grass, showcasing a clear superiority over Purcell, and advanced to the second round. Although Rublev, who reached the fourth round in 2021, trailed 5-2 in the second set, he rallied to win the set and secured victory in straight sets. Rublev, who previously wrote "No to war" on a camera lens following the Russian attack on Ukraine in February 2022, received a warm reception from fans on Court No. 3.
