Rublev powers to Dubai QFs, Lehecka saves 5 MPs against Khachanov

Andrey Rublev continued his impressive record at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Wednesday when he brushed aside French qualifier Arthur Cazaux 6-4, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals in Dubai for the fifth consecutive year.

The second seed overpowered the athletic Cazaux with his heavy baseline ballstriking, firing 29 winners. Rublev, who did not face a break point, now leads Cazaux 2-0 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series after his 77-minute win.

“He was serving really well. He was making first serves. I was lucky that in the first game of the match he didn’t make first serves and I guessed right and made great returns,” said Rublev, who beat Zhang Zhizhen in three sets in the first round. “I was able to break straight away and it gave me extra confidence and I was able to play freer and I think that was the key.”

Rublev is aiming to win the ATP 500 title for the second time, having triumphed in 2022. The 26-year-old holds a 16-3 record at the event and will next play Sebastian Korda after the American downed Botic van de Zandschulp 6-1, 6-0.

In other action, Ugo Humbert continued his good start to the season with a 6-2, 6-4 victory against former World No. 1 Andy Murray.

The Frenchman did not face a break point en route to a first Lexus ATP Head2Head victory against the Scot, advancing in one hour and 31 minutes.

Earlier this month, Humbert won his fifth tour-level title in Marseille. The fifth seed, playing at a career-high No. 18 this week, will next meet Hubert Hurkacz after the Pole beat Christopher O'Connell 7-6(5), 6-4.

Hurkacz, who reached the semis in Dubai two years ago, is chasing his first title of the season at the ATP 500.

Alexander Bublik also advanced, clawing past Tallon Griekspoor 7-6(8), 7-6(2). The World No. 23 hit 22 aces and saved two set points in the first-set tie-break, triumphing after one hour and 49 minutes. Bublik meets Jiri Lehecka in the quarter-finals.

The Czech Lehecka overcame Doha champion Karen Khachanov 6-7(6), 7-6(5), 6-4 in a two-hour, 57-minute epic. The World No. 36 saved five match points in the second set and rallied from 2-4 in the third set to reach second quarter-final of the season.