Andrey Rublev overcame Alexander Zverev 6-1 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 after 2 hours and 32 minutes to clinch his 53rd win of the season at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna.
Rublev saved all six break points he faced in the third set to improve to 3-5 in his head-to-head matches against Zverev.
Rublev broke twice in the fourth and sixth games and sealed the first set on his second set point 6-1 in 39 minutes.
Zverev saved a break point in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. The German player cruised through his service games comfortably. The second set went on serve en route the tie.break. Rublev earned an early mini-break to race out to a 3-0 lead. Zverev pulled back on serve to 3-3 with a backhand passing shot. Rublev won four consecutive points to take a 4-3 lead. Rublev broke straight back to 4-4. Zverev earned his third mini-break to win the tie-break 7-5. Rublev hit 14 winners to 8 unforced errors.
Rublev broke in the second game to open up a 3-0 lead. Zverev saved three break points in the fourth game to claw his way back to 1-3. Rublev saved four break points in the ninth game before sealing the win on his first match point.
Rublev set up a semifinal clash against Jannik Sinner, who beat Frances Tiafoe 6-3 6-4 in 80 minutes. Sinner has improved to 6-1 in tour-level quarter finals this season.
“It was a super tough match. I am lucky I played great points in the first set and get an early break. That gave me a lot of confidence because when you are one set up it is easier to play. In the second set he was serving much better. I had one chance to break him and I was unlucky. Then classic tie-break and he played well .In the third set I was able to start well and get an early break. Then a couple of break points and the last game was dramatic but I think I played well. Aggressive on those points and finishing at the net”, said Rublev.
Sinner won 82% of his first serve points and saved all three break points he faced.
Sinner earned his first break in the second game. The Italian player fended off two break points in the seventh game before sealing the first set on his first set point.
Sinner broke serve in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead. The Italian player saved a break point in the eighth game to hold serve for 5-3. He missed a match point at 5-3, but he closed out the match by holding serve at love.
