Andrey Rublev saved three match points to beat Bernabe Zapata Miralles 5-7 6-1 7-6 (9-7) at the European Open in Hamburg.
Rublev earned an early break in the third game of the first set to take a 2-1 lead, but Zapata Miralles broke straight back to draw level to 2-2. Rublev went up a break for the second time in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead. Zapata Miralles came back by breaking twice in the 10th and 12th games to close out the first set 7-5.
Rublev broke three times to win the second set 6-1 forcing the match to the third set. Carballes Baena earned three break points in the first game of the decider but he did not convert them. The Spanish player did not a face a single break point in the third set.
Rublev rallied from 4-6 in the tie-break of the third set and held his nerve when he fended off the third match point at 6-7 with a forehand winner.
Rublev has moved to fourth in the ATP Race to Turin after his title in Bastad last week.
“The feeling was that I was playing well and it was under control, but somehow I lost the first set and was frustrated. I came back and recovered mentally and won a really good second set. The third set was tough. I started to get tired and nervous, because the score was going to the tie-break and I did not have many chances to break him”, said Rublev.
