Andrey Rublev continues to back up his reputation as an ATP 500 ace at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. The fifth seed on Friday booked his spot in his third Doha championship match by hanging tough for a 7-5, 6-4, 7-6(5) semi-final victory against Felix Auger-Aliassime. Rublev withstood 21 aces from his opponent to prevail after two hours, 47 minutes and reach his first tour-level final since Montreal last August.
“[It took] everything. It was super tough today,” said Rublev. “I felt like there was not much I can do if he is serving [like]that. I just needed to be really lucky to break him… He was serving well and I was just saying, ‘Okay, I cannot do much, this is one of the best servers on Tour. I just need to try to guess and when I have a moment, just go for it.' At 6-5 was the only match point I had, a good one on match point, and I missed a little bit. But it happened.”
By improving to 6-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Auger-Aliassime, Rublev became the ninth player to reach 10 ATP 500 finals since the series was introduced in 2009. The 27-year-old is a five-time champion at this level and a 16-time ATP Tour titlist overall.
Rublev will take on eighth seed Jack Draper or Carlos Alcaraz conqueror Jiri Lehecka in Saturday’s final in Doha, which is this year hosting an ATP 500 event for the first time after being upgraded from an ATP 250 for the 2025 season.
Earlier, Rublev had to dig deep to overcome Alex De Minaur with scores of 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(10-8) to benefit from his quarterfinal match. After letting slip a 5-2 lead, he found resilience to save match point and seal his victory. “When I had my first match point, I played really well,” Rublev noted, reflecting on the rollercoaster of emotions he experienced during the match.
This semifinal contest against Auger-Aliassime showed Rublev’s tenacity, proving pivotal for his confidence, as it was his first win against a Top 10 player since August last year. His performance spoke of determination, especially after successfully edging out De Minaur to advance. This win now sets him up for the final, eager to claim more glory.
Starting off strong, Rublev appears to be regaining his competitive edge, which had been evident throughout his matches leading to the final. Having previously captured the Qatar Open title back in 2020, he stands at the forefront of the competition, its history adds to the stakes.
Many eyes will now be on the final, where Rublev hopes to fend off competition against the likes of Draper or Lehecka. A victory would certainly bolster his standing not only within the ATP 500 framework but is key for Rublev's ambition to continue innovatively defining his career path as he advances.
With this latest display of fighting spirit and formidable skills, Andrey Rublev showcases why he remains one of the top contenders, vying fiercely for championships and solidifying his legacy within the sport.