Rublev's 'guessing game' sinks Auger-Aliassime in Doha thriller, Draper advances to fifth final

Andrey Rublev continues to back up his reputation as an ATP 500 ace at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open.

The fifth seed on Friday booked his spot in his third Doha championship match by hanging tough for a 7-5, 6-4, 7-6(5) semi-final victory against Felix Auger-Aliassime. Rublev withstood 21 aces from his opponent to prevail after two hours, 47 minutes and reach his first tour-level final since Montreal last August.

“[It took] everything. It was super tough today,” said Rublev, who will face Jack Draper in Saturday's final. “I felt like there was not much I can do if he is serving [like that]. I just needed to be really lucky to break him… He was serving well and I was just saying, ‘Okay, I cannot do much, this is one of the best servers on Tour. I just need to try to guess and when I have a moment, just go for it.' At 6-5 was the only match point I had, a good [opportunity], and I missed by a little bit. But it happened.”

By improving to 6-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Auger-Aliassime, Rublev became the ninth 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 a 16-time ATP Tour titlist overall.

2018 🥈
2020 🏆
2025 👀@AndreyRublev97 returns to the Doha final 7-5 4-6 7-6(5) over FAA@QatarTennis | #QatarExxonMobilOpen pic.twitter.com/HNgPognuES

— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 21, 2025

Rublev, who needed eight match points to see off Alex de Minaur in a dramatic quarter-final on Thursday, let slip a match point on return at 6-5, 30/40 against Auger-Aliassime. The Canadian subsequently held firm behind his serve to force a tie-break, but the Canadian could not stick with his opponent from there, and Rublev struck the ball with consistency and power before converting his fourth match point.

Although he was handily outdone in the ace count (8-21), Rublev’s serve was still crucial to his victory. He won 84 per cent (61/73) of points behind his first delivery, according to Infosys ATP Stats, compared to Auger-Aliassime’s 75 per cent (57/76).

Rublev will take on eighth seed Draper in Saturday’s final in Doha, which is this year hosting an ATP 500 event for the first time. His run to the final in the Qatari capital will be a huge confidence booster for a player who has begun 2025 in modest fashion by his own high standards: Rublev entered the week with a 4-4 record for 2025, but is now 8-4 and up one spot to No. 9 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings thanks to his Doha run so far.

“It feels amazing [to be in a third Doha final], but at the same time what can I do?” said Rublev. “If it doesn’t happen, next week I have another tournament, another opportunity. I am happy that I am back in terms of my level. I think I am playing better and better week by week, so I’m improving. I will keep the main focus, even if I don’t win this final, just to keep improving.”

Draper battled from behind to beat Carlos Alcaraz conqueror Jiri Lehecka 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-3 and reach his fifth tour-level final.

The British lefty fired 14 aces and won 88 per cent (45/51) of his first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, to triumph after two hours and 22 minutes and improve to 2-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against the Czech.

"I feel good," Draper said. "My body feels pretty good. It's been obviously a tough couple of matches, but I'm getting used to playing more this intensity back-to-back. I'm looking forward to tomorrow, I'll give it my all, and I feel good.

Draper is up to No. 12 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and will rise to a career-high on Monday. The 23-year-old would become the World No. 11 if he defeats Rublev and wins his third tour-level title and second at ATP 500 level (Vienna).

Lehecka defeated Alcaraz in the quarter-finals and is up to No. 22 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. The 23-year-old, who won the title in Brisbane earlier this season, will also rise to a career high next week.