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Rublev, 25, was 4-1 down in the decider but
ground his way back into the contest to prevail on his second
match point with an ace at a sun-drenched Monte Carlo Country
Club.
It was Rublev's third attempt in a Masters final after failing
at the final hurdle here in Monte Carlo and in Cincinnati in
2021.
"I don't know what to say, I'm just happy, I struggled so much
to get this title," said Rublev.
Rune, who burst into the limelight at last year's French Open
when he reached the quarter-finals, needed nearly three hours to
beat Italian Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals.
Rublev also needed three sets to beat American Taylor Fritz, and
fatigue was a factor in Sunday's showdown.
Rune, the youngest Monte Carlo finalist after Rafael Nadal in
2005, opened a 4-2 lead in the first set on his second
opportunity to break, only for an unforced forehand error to
allow Rublev to break right back.
The Russian, however, bowed under pressure in the seventh game
as he sent a forehand long to lose his second service game and
give Rune the opening set.
After an early exchange of breaks, Rune netted a routine shot to
drop serve again before Rublev held for 4-2 in the second set.
The Russian then broke to love and levelled the contest on serve
as Rune seemed to lose his composure.
The Dane, however, found gravity-defying angles to break first
in the decider, moving 3-0, and 4-1 ahead.
But Rublev did not surrender and after breaking in the seventh
game, he broke Rune's serve again as the Dane received a warning
for angrily sending the ball into the crowd in the 11th game.
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Toby Davis)
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