In 2022, tennis player Andrey Rublev stepped in to help fellow Russian and compatriot Ivan Gakhov with his clothing requirements. Gakhov, a lower-ranked player, had no sponsors to support him while playing on the ATP Challenger Tour. Despite not having the same level of success as Rublev, Gakhov managed to qualify for the ongoing Masters 1000 tournament in Monte Carlo and earned his first tour-level win in the first round against Mackenzie McDonald.
Relationship with Fellow Russian Tennis Players
Gakhov shared with ATPTour.com that he has great relationships with his fellow Russian tennis players, including Rublev, Daniil Medvedev, and Karen Khachanov. He said, “Andrey Rublev helped me last year with some clothing because I don’t have any clothing sponsors. Daniil is also a very good friend of mine because we play some games together by phone or by PlayStation. Karen here congratulated me after every win, so we have a good friendship between us.”
Competitive Spirit and Friendship with Medvedev
Speaking about Medvedev, Gakhov praised the 27-year-old’s competitive spirit, particularly when playing fantasy football together. He said, “We try to build our team and it depends on how they do in real life, especially in the English Premier League. That’s why we follow a lot because we play with a lot of friends. Daniil has the same passion playing for nothing [in] this football game [as he does] on the tennis court, so it’s unbelievable his fighting spirit. He always wants to win and he lives every moment.”
Matches at the Monte-Carlo Masters 2023
In the 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters, Andrey Rublev received a bye in the first round and will face Spain’s Jaume Munar in the second round, while qualifier Ivan Gakhov will take on World No. 1 Novak Djokovic. Both players are currently striving to achieve their goals in this prestigious tournament, with Rublev seeking his maiden 1000 title and Gakhov taking on the world’s top player.Regarding his upcoming matchup with Djokovic, Gakhov said, “No matter points, money, the best reward is to play the greatest of all time tomorrow. That’s the best I could ask for.”
