Golubev Turns To Challengers For Top 50 Return
Golubev Turns To Challengers For Top 50 Return
Golubev opened 2016 by going 11-4 on the ATP Challenger Tour
After a disappointing 2015 season due to injury, Andrey Golubev is back to full speed and ready to make a run back up the Emirates ATP Rankings.
The 28-year-old from Kazakhstan started out this year in dominant form, reaching the final of the ATP Challenger Tour event this February in Launceston, Australia, before prevailing the following month in Jonkoping, Sweden. Golubev even saved four championship points in the final against #NextGen star Karen Khachanov.
This week, Golubev is looking to make his sixth appearance in the main draw of Roland Garros. He opened up his qualifying campaign on Monday with a win over No. 16 seed Jozef Kovalik, then followed that up with another straight sets win on Wednesday over wild card Alexandre Sidorenko. He credited his improved form this year with the way he prepared during the off-season and sticking to his strengths in terms of scheduling.
“I played in outdoor and indoor hard courts for the first part of the year, which are surfaces that I like and prefer,” said Golubev. “I also put myself in the right mental state for this part of the season.”
Although Golubev has spent plenty of the years competing exclusively on the ATP World Tour, he said that he’s enjoyed many of the ATP Challenger Tour events he’s played in. He had particularly kind things to say about last month’s $50,000 event in Turin, Italy
“The organization was very good and the courts and stadium were perfect,” said Golubev. “The club is very nice and good for all the players, but it’s somewhat to be expected since Turin is an Olympic city.”
Golubev’s immediate goal is to qualify for Roland Garros, but he’s also hoping to put together consistent results throughout the season so he can eventually re-enter the Top 50 of the Emirates ATP Rankings, with his career-high ranking of No. 33 coming in October 2010. After frustrating periods of injuries, he believes he can finally get back there now that he’s healthy.
“That’s what I’m working for,” he said. “Many things have changed, especially with my physical condition. Now that I’m well, I have good feelings about this year.”