Tennis-Rublev crashes out of Wimbledon to Grand Slam debutant Comesana

Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2024 Russia's Andrey Rublev in action during his first round match against Australia's Francisco Comesana REUTERS/Isabel Infantes

LONDON (Reuters) - Russian sixth-seed Andrey Rublev crashed out of Wimbledon in the first round on Tuesday, losing 6-4 5-7 6-2 7-6(5) to world No.122 Francisco Comesana of Argentina, playing his first match at a Grand Slam.

Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2024 Argentina's Francisco Comesana in action during his first round match against Russia's Andrey Rublev REUTERS/Isabel Infantes

Rublev, who last year reached the quarter-final at Wimbledon, where he was defeated by Novak Djokovic, frequently lost his temper, screamed out loud, and ranted at his courtside coaching team.

At one point in the third set the 26-year-old, who also had a meltdown at the French Open in May, smashed his racket repeatedly over his knee, leaving it bloody and bruised for the rest of the match.

"I didn't behave today as in Paris, but still I could do much better. This is not the way. Of course it's the main priority to be able during all the match to be positive," he told reporters, while acknowledging his opponent's fine performance.

Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2024 Australia's Francisco Comesana in action during his first round match against Russia's Andrey Rublev REUTERS/Isabel Infantes

"I had a lot of chances, a lot of opportunities. I didn't make them. The guy was playing really well, 10-points mentality, and he deserve to win," he said.

Indeed, Comesana thoroughly belied his lack of experience -- contesting only his second grass court match at any level, professional or junior -- and played with poise and control from the start.

Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2024 Russia's Andrey Rublev in action during his first round match against Argentina's Francisco Comesana REUTERS/Isabel Infantes

The 23-year-old broke Rublev for a 3-2 lead in the first set and then held to win it, much to the frustration of Rublev.

Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2024 Australia's Francisco Comesana shakes hands with Russia's Andrey Rublev after winning his first round match REUTERS/Isabel Infantes

Rublev broke back early in the second and began to assert himself, frequently wrong-footing Comesana or drawing him into long rallies and overpowering him with powerful forehand shots.

Comesana fought his way back from three set points down twice in the second set before losing it.

But the Argentinian, who fired down 21 aces in all, powered through the rain-interrupted third set and narrowly outdid Rublev for guile and accuracy in the fourth before drawing an unforced error from the Russian to finish the match in style.

"I dreamed to play here. I'm so happy I don't know what to say now," he said in an on-court interview.

(Reporting by Hugh Lawson; Editing by Alison Williams)