'It is impossible to explain, he is a true legend,' says Rublev after defeating Federer
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Rublev hailed Federer as a 'true legend'
Russia's Andrey Rublev said "it is impossible to explain" after defeating Roger Federer in the third round of the Cincinnati Open on Thursday.
The Russian qualifier beat 20-time Grand slam champion 6-3, 6-4 and hailed the former world number one as a "true legend".
It was Federer's quickest defeat since losing to Franco Squillari in 54 minutes in Sydney in 2003.
"It is impossible to explain. I don't know. I mean, the way even how he (Roger Federer) finished the match, it was so amazing," said Rublev.
.@AndreyRublev97 "What a match against a true legend🙏❤️ a big honour for me🙏🙏❤️🎾 @CincyTennis | #ATPTour pic.twitter.com/l7WGBVChvu
— ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) August 16, 2019
🇨🇭 @rogerfederer reacts to his loss against Andrey Rublev at @CincyTennis. 💭
— ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) August 15, 2019
Rublev couldn't put his emotions into words after the match and said, "I told him it was a big honour and he said 'no worries'. The way he did it, it was amazing."
"Now I feel that he is a true legend and that is what my feeling inside is," Rublev said.
Rublev’s win sets up an all-Russian quarter-final with ninth seed Daniil Medvedev.