ATP Tour

Van Assche stuns Rublev for landmark win, Darderi denies Faria SF berth in Estoril

Luca Van Assche refused to be overpowered on Friday at the Millennium Estoril Open, where he turned the tables on top seed and World No. 14 Andrey Rublev with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory for the biggest win of his career.

Rublev arrived in Portugal riding a five-match winning streak after lifting the title in Bastad on Sunday, but Van Assche matched — and eventually surpassed — his opponent’s firepower to complete a remarkable two-hour, 15-minute comeback. The 22-year-old Frenchman, who is into his first ATP Tour semi-final after falling in his previous three tour-level quarter-finals, will next face countryman Hugo Gaston at the clay-court ATP 250 event.

“I’m very, very happy about the win today. It’s the best win of my career so far,” Van Assche, the No. 78 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, said. “It means a lot to me. It was a tough match. I’m happy with the level I played. I love Portugal. I’ve played well here during my career so far. It’s a place that I love and to be in the semi-finals, it’s a great step in my career.”

Rublev saved all five break points he faced in the opening set, according to Infosys ATP Stats, but could not hold off Van Assche's relentless surge after the opener. The Frenchman raised his level as the match wore on, repeatedly coming out on top in extended forehand-to-forehand exchanges to level their Lexus ATP Head2Head series at 1-1.

Gaston kicked off Friday's action in Portugal by ending the dream run of local wild card Tiago Torres. The Frenchman repeatedly used his trademark drop shot to draw Torres forward before sealing a 6-3, 6-4 victory and advancing to his fourth ATP Tour semi-final, and first since 2024.

“There is no secret,” Gaston replied when asked about the key to a good drop shot. “Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Today it was difficult. With the wind, it can help me, but Tiago is a guy who can run really fast. It’s one of my best shots, so I have to use it. Not too much… But sometimes it’s good in these conditions, so I will keep it in my pocket.”

Both Gaston and Torres are guaranteed significant rises in the PIF ATP Rankings. Gaston has climbed 19 places to No. 90 in the Live Rankings with his run to the last four, while Torres — who made his tour-level debut this week — has soared 96 spots to No. 331.

After Torres’ defeat, Jaime Faria appeared set to give the home fans something to cheer in Estoril, but the last remaining Portuguese hope was unable to see off second seed Luciano Darderi. Faria led 5-2 in the second set and served for the match at 5-3 before Darderi rallied for a 2-6, 7-5, 6-2 triumph.

With his Tour-leading 22nd clay-court win of 2026, Darderi set a Saturday semi-final showdown with Alexander Blockx in Estoril. The fourth-seeded Blockx edged Roman Andres Burruchaga 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 to reach the last four at an ATP Tour for the second time, after his breakout run to that stage at the Mutua Madrid Open in April.