Andrey Rublev Challenge Draper In Qatar Open Final

JAKARTA - Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev who often wins Qatar Open again reached the final after a 7-5 4-6 7-6(5) victory over Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, and will meet Jack Draper in the decision after the Briton beat Czech Jiri Lehecka Saturday morning WIB.

Rublev held 21 sheets of his opponent to win after two hours 47 minutes, and reached the final of his first tour level since Montreal August 2024.

"Everything is needed. Today is very difficult," said Rublev, as broadcast on the ATP website, as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, February 22.

"I feel like I can't do much if he does something like that. I just need to be very lucky to break his serve."

"He did the service well and I just said, 'Okay, I can't do much, this is one of the best service on the tour. I just have to try to guess and when I have time, just do it'," said the 27-year-old.

"The 6-5 position is the only match point I have, a good opportunity, and I missed a bit of a chance. But it happened."

By increasing the score to 6-1 in head to head with Auger-Aliassime, Rublev became the ninth tennis player to reach 10 ATP 500 finals since the series was introduced in 2009.

The 27-year-old is a five-time champion at that level and won 16 ATP Tour titles overall.

Rublev, who needed eight match points to beat Alex de Minaur in a dramatic quarter-final on Thursday (19/2), lost match point on his return to 6-5, 30/40 against Auger-Aliassime.

The Canadian then defended firmly behind his serve to force the tie-break, but the Canadian could not last long with his opponent since then, and Rublev hit the ball with consistency and strength before converting his fourth match point.

According to ATP statistics, although he lost by ace (8-21), Rublev's service was still crucial for his victory. He won 84 percent (61/73) behind his first serve compared to 75 percent of Auger-Aliassime's (57/76)

Rublev will face eighth seed Draper in the final round on Saturday. His success in reaching the final in the capital Qatar will be the driver of the fifth seed's confidence.

He started this week with a 4-4 win for 2025, but now has a 8-4 record, and has moved up one place to ninth place at ATP thanks to his success so far in Doha.

"It feels great (being in the third Doha final), but at the same time what can I do?" said Rublev.

"If that doesn't happen, next week I will join another tournament, another chance. I'm happy that I'm back at my level. I think I'm playing better and better from week to week, so I'm constantly developing. I'll stay focused, even if I don't win this final, just to keep going."

Meanwhile, Draper struggled to defeat conquest Carlos Alcaraz Jiri Lehecka 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-3 and reached the final level of his fifth tour.

The British left-handed player released 14 ace and won his first 88 percent (45/51) serve point, according to ATP statistics, to win after two hours and 22 minutes and raise the score to 2-1 in head to head against the Czech.

"I feel good. My body feels pretty good," said Draper.

"Obviously these are some tough games, but I'm getting used to playing with this intensity in a row. I'm looking forward to tomorrow, I'll give everything, and I feel fine."

Draper moved up to 12th in ATP, and will reach the highest ranking in his career on Monday (24/2). The 23-year-old will become world number 11 if he beats Rublev and wins his third title at the tour level and the second at ATP 500 (Wina) level.