Russian tennis star Andrey Rublev is set to face off against Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semifinals of the ATP-500 tournament taking place at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. The match is scheduled to start on February 21, at 18:10 Moscow time at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha.
Rublev, currently ranked 10th in the world, has had quite the competitive run leading up to this semifinal. His quarterfinal encounter against Australian Alex De Minaur proved to be both demanding and exhilarating. After dropping one set and nearly losing the match, Rublev managed to edge out De Minaur with a final score of 6:1, 3:6, 7:6 (10:8). Former Australian Open doubles champion, Andrey Olkhovsky, emphasized the psychological importance of this match, remarking on Rublev’s ability to maintain composure under pressure, especially after being faced with seven match points.
On the other side of the court, Felix Auger-Aliassime, who is 24 years old and ranked 23rd globally, made his way to the semifinals after benefitting from Daniil Medvedev's retirement. Medvedev withdrew following the first set where Auger-Aliassime was leading 6:3, citing food poisoning as the reason for his withdrawal. Despite having not faced any significant competition since the beginning of the tournament, Auger-Aliassime enters this match with previous momentum from having won two ATP titles this year, including the Adelaide International.
The rivalry between Rublev and Auger-Aliassime leans heavily in favor of the Russian, who has won six out of their seven previous encounters. Their last meeting occurred during the finals of the Madrid Open, where Rublev claimed victory after overcoming Auger-Aliassime with a scoreline of 4:6, 7:5, 7:5. Sports analysts believe this history gives Rublev the upper hand going forward. According to BetFair’s odds, Rublev is favored to win, with 79% of all bets placed on him, indicating strong confidence from the betting public.
Interestingly, five out of the seven matches played between these two have gone the distance, with multiple sets resulting in tiebreakers. This suggests players bringing their A-game to each encounter, promising excitement for fans and spectators alike. Given Rublev's history of facing tough opponents at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, having previously won the title here twice, he looks to reclaim glory, aware of the pressure surrounding him.
Both players present unique strengths—besides his advantageous track record against Auger-Aliassime, Rublev arrives at this match with combat experience from challenging matches with top-tier opponents. Conversely, Auger-Aliassime appears well-rested, having exerted significantly less effort due to the nature of his advance past the quarterfinals.
Looking forward, the match is set to be fascinating, with pundits predicting Rublev’s victory mainly due to his competitive experience and success against Auger-Aliassime. With both players eager to reach the finals, the semifinal clash promises to deliver thrilling rallies and competitive spirit within the tennis community.
With the stakes high, and the tension palpable, spectators can expect to tune in for this must-watch matchup between two of tennis's rising stars. Predictions range from Rublev winning decisively to Auger-Aliassime pulling off the upset, making this match one to watch closely.