Andrey Rublev battled past Guido Pella 6-2 4-6 7-6 (7-2) in the semifinal of the Qatar Open ATP 250 in Doha to secure his spot in tomorrow’s final against Gael Monfils, who advanced to the final after Dominic Thiem was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to fever.
The Russian Next Gen player broke serve twice in the first and fifth games of the opening set to open up a 4-1 lead. Pella got one break back in the sixth game to claw his way back to 2-4. Rublev won the final eight points to close out the opening set 6-2.
The second set was marked by four consecutive breaks in the middle of the set. Pella earned his third break in the 10th game to seal the set forcing the match to the decider.
In the third set Rublev fended off three break points in the second game. Pella saved two break points in the fifth game for 3-2. The Argentine player earned a match point at 5-4 in the 10th game but Rublev saved it with his second ace of the match. He held serve in the 12th game to set up the tie-break. Rublev got four mini-breaks to win the tie-break 7-2 after two hours and 26 minutes.
“It feels amazing. I have no words to describe this match. I think it was such an amazing match for both of us. We made amazing rallies, such unreal rallies. I am really happy that I won. I can say only good job to Pella for how he played. The way he played. The way he played, it’s unreal. I think we made a great battle. I think people enjoyed. I think everybody is happy”, said Rublev.
Rublev has qualified for the second final of his career after Umag last July, where he beat Fabio Fognini. Monfils will play his fourth final in Doha, where he finished runner-up in 2006, 2012 and 2014.
“I am very sad for Dominic and I hope and I hope he will have a speedy recovery. I am happy to be in the final for the fourth time here. I hope this one will be better than the other ones. I am just pleased with the way the year has started and I will be ready for tomorrow. It is a tournament that I really like. It will give me a bit more confidence for the rest of the year”, said Monfils.
Monfils will meet Rublev for the first time in his career. The Frenchman lost three finals in Doha to Roger Federer in 2006, to Jo Wilfried Tsonga in 2012 and to Rafael Nadal in 2014.
Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic clinched their second title as a team after winning the doubles final against Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares by 6-2 7-6 (7-2). The Austrian and Croatian team made their debut as a team in Miami last March. They reached the doubles final at Wimbledon last July and won their first title in Stockolm. They won a match at the ATP Finals in London as alternates beating US twins Mike and Bob Bryan.
“We played really good tennis the whole week. Especially for me it was very important. I didn’t know how I would play because I had not a great winter. I was injured. Then I came here with just three or four practices and if you look at that. It’s amazing that we are now the winners”, said Marach.
