Andrey Rublev saved one match point and needed eight of his own to subdue Alex de Minaur 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (8) in the Qatar Open quarterfinals on Thursday.
The tortuous journey to the win prompted Rublev to joke about de Minaur, “I wanna punch him.”
The Russian fifth seed wasted a 5-2 lead in the last set against the Australian second seed, who forced the tiebreak with remarkable scrambling, The Associated Press reported.
But after 2 1/2 hours, Rublev was through to his fourth semifinals in Doha, where he won the title in 2020.
He awaits countryman Daniil Medvedev or Canada's Félix Auger-Aliassime.
Rublev Beats De Minaur after 8 Match Points in Qatar Open Quarterfinals
Tennis - Qatar Open - Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, Doha, Qatar - February 20, 2025 Russia's Andrey Rublev reacts during his quarter final match against Australia's Alex de Minaur REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari
Rublev Beats De Minaur after 8 Match Points in Qatar Open Quarterfinals
Tennis - Qatar Open - Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, Doha, Qatar - February 20, 2025 Russia's Andrey Rublev reacts during his quarter final match against Australia's Alex de Minaur REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari
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