MELBOURNE, Australia — Noah Rubin said Monday was just “another day at the office.” A bit of an understatement, considering he essentially received a promotion and a raise at what was already his dream job.
Rubin, a 19-year-old from Long Island, earned his first victory in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament, upsetting 17th-seeded Benoît Paire of France, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), at the Australian Open.
Rubin, ranked 328th, had never beaten a top-100 opponent, much less a top-20 player. Paire’s flair was often undone by Rubin’s steady attacking to his forehand, and the Frenchman’s dislike of the heat kept his body language negative in comparison to Rubin’s calm.