Andrey Rublev handles Hubert Hurkacz to secure shot at 10th career ATP title
Andrey Rublev has captured the first final slot in Dubai this week as he claimed a first career victory over ATP world number 10 Hubert Hurkacz.
The world number seven had previously lost both his meetings with the Pole, those coming at the 2020 Rome Masters and 2021 Miami Masters, the latter of which Hurkacz went on to win.
But now, after defeating Hurkacz 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5), Rublev booked his spot in the final of Dubai for the first time.
“Somehow I just keep saying to myself ‘keep fighting and we’ll see what happens.’
“And in the end three matches in a row I end up winning [from a set down].
“And today in one moment it looked like there was no chance, but somehow I still managed to win, it’s incredible.”
Rublev defeated Soonwoo Kwon, Mackenzie McDonald and now Hurkacz back-to-back-to-back all from a set down to reach his 15th overall final on the ATP tour.
Not only that, but the Russian is into his second final in just six days after winning the ATP 250 Marseille Open this past Sunday.
“I couldn’t imagine at the beginning of the week that I would make it [to the final],” he admitted.
“It’s an amazing present for me and I just want to enjoy the moment, enjoy my evening and give my best and everything tomorrow before I have at least one week of rest.”
Looking ahead to the final, Rublev will face either world number 14 Denis Shapovalov or Czech qualifier Jiri Vesely for the title.
Rublev holds a 2-2 record against the Canadian while he has never before faced Vesely on the ATP tour.
Finally, the 24-year-old is 9-5 in his previous 14 ATP finals, with his last of four ATP 500 titles coming almost exactly a year ago at the 2021 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam.
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