Zverev v Rublev: Lots to prove

Alexander Zverev and Andrey Rublev are no strangers. Two of the game’s brightest prospects have crossed paths many times before.

As juniors they contested three Grand Slams as doubles partners. As the game’s biggest stars played in front of packed arenas, they were relegated to outside courts. Two tennis-loving kids with big dreams.

Three times they met in singles on the ITF junior singles circuit, with Zverev winning twice. The 20-year-old German, older by six months, also won their first professional meeting. Played on Monte Carlo clay last year, a No.54-ranked Zverev beat a No.157-ranked Rublev in straight sets.

Today they meet in a China Open quarterfinal. It is a feature night match and a prelude to the highly-anticipated ATP #NextGen Finals in Milan next month, where they will be the two highest-ranked players in a field featuring the tour’s best performed players aged 21 and under.

The dream they once shared is now a reality.

Yet for all their parallels in their history, there is one noticeable difference in their divergent paths – their sense of belonging on the sport’s biggest stage.

The 19-year-old Rublev, who has beaten No.21-ranked Jack Sock and No.19-ranked Tomas Berdych this week to reach his fourth ATP quarterfinal, does not consider himself recognisable or a star.

“I’m not famous. You’d need to ask one of the top players what that’s like,” Rublev responded when asked what it was like coping with fame.

The 19-year-old is currently ranked a career-high No.37 and has won 12 of his past 17 matches. This run began with his first ATP title in July and has included five wins against top 30-ranked opponents. The Russian talent defeated Grigor Dimitrov and David Goffin in an impressive US Open quarterfinal run, which ended with a loss to world No.1 and eventual champion Rafael Nadal.

“I feel that I have shots to play with these guys, but still in general, they are still much better than me,” Rublev conceded.

Contrastly, Zverev exudes confidence – but not arrogance – and has the results to justify it. The youngest top five-ranked player since Novak Djokovic a decade before him, Zverev has earnt his place among the game’s elite.

“I think my season has been pretty consistent,” the world No.4 reflected this week. “I’ve won five tournaments. I think me, Rafa and Roger are the only ones who won five tournaments. That shows that I’ve been pretty consistent. I mean, in big events I was pretty consistent, as well. I won two Masters Series. So that’s something great.”

RELATED: Zverev is striving high

Zverev, a top 100 player since 2015, is clearly comfortable on tour. He credits No.27-ranked brother Mischa for helping his transition to the pro ranks smoother.

“My brother helped me with it because he was on the pro tour already. He could always talk, he could always teach me a lot of stuff,” Zverev noted.

Rublev on the other hand is still adjusting. He made his top 100 debut three months ago and his top 40 breakthrough last month.

This time last year the he was competing in ATP Challenger events, ranked No.172 and devoid of confidence.

“I was thinking it was not possible to be worse, and every time it got worse and worse,” Rublev said of his difficult 2016 season.

That testing period has strengthened Rublev’s resolve, as two come from behind wins this week have demonstrated.

“Match by match, especially when I win kind of matches like this, I feel like I’m much more confident,” Rublev said.

RELATED: Rublev the comeback king

Rublev’s improvement has not gone unnoticed by Zverev.

“He’s been playing very well,” Zverev noted.

“I’ve known him since a very young age, we’ve played juniors together. It’s going to be an entertaining #NextGen match. But I’m playing well too and I’m ready for it.”

Zverev deservedly starts as favourite – but Rublev has a lot to play for. Chasing a first top five win, a first semifinal appearance at ATP 500 level and first win of his professional career against his long-time friend, it’s also a chance to prove he belongs. Not just to the rest of the world, but more importantly, to himself.