(Paris) The Russian Andrey Rublev, world No.6, qualified for the final of the ATP 500 tournament in Dubai on Friday by dominating the German Alexander Zverev in two sets 6-3, 7-5 (11-9).
It is the first time in six confrontations that Rublev has won against his opponent of the day. The Russian won the tiebreaker after almost two hours of play.
Previously, Zverev (16e world) had managed to save a first match point at 6-5 before snatching a decisive game finally very disputed. But at the end of his sixth match point, the 6e world has taken over.
“I don’t know how I got out of it, I thought there would be a third set, I was mentally preparing for it. Zverev played my match points well, admitted Andrey Rublev at the end of the meeting. Then I had a bit of luck”.
Holder of the title in Dubai, Andrey Rublev can win his first title of the year 2023 on Saturday. He will face the winner of the second semi-final of the day between the world No.1 Novak Djokovic and the Russian Daniil Medvedev (7e).