Fifth seed Andrey Rublev surges to victory over world No. 16 Jack Draper in Doha to become a two-time Qatar Open champion on Saturday.
World No. 10 Andrey Rublev found his best tennis at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex to complete an impressive week in Doha with a 7-5, 5-7, 6-1 hard-fought two-hour, 4-minute triumph over eighth seed Jack Draper at the Qatar Open final held on Saturday.
After the championship match, he commented: “I think both of us were really tired after two three-set matches that finished late. We were exhausted, and it was difficult. But somehow, we were able to play at a good level. When I lost the second set, I let it go and started to play more freely.”
En route to capture his first title of the season, his 17th at tour level overall, the reigning champion fought off Felix Auger-Aliassime, the first player to win multiple titles in 2025 (Adelaide and Montpellier) after an edgy two-hour, 26-minute semifinal clash on Friday.
Previously, the former world No. 5 survived the stern test posed by second seed Alex de Minaur, a rollercoaster quarterfinal encounter.
Shy of three hours, Rublev eventually prevailed over the talented Australian, boosting his confidence, which would prove crucial when facing the in-form Canadian player for a place in the Doha final.
Assessing his performance on Saturday, the Moscow native outlined: “I played at a good level. In some moments, I was really good mentally and didn’t let frustration get over me. As soon as I was frustrated, I was able to restart again, and I was able to play at the same intensity. That’s the most important thing.”
The first trophy since winning Madrid in 2024 also marks a new milestone in the 27-year-old professional career, as he had never won an event multiple times before, reigning supreme at the tournament, upgraded to ATP 500 this year.
The heavyweight contest saw Fernando Vicente’s pupil hit first, displaying his lethal power, firing winners with his forehand throughout the opener.
Moreover, he took control of the first, staying clinical behind his booming serve.
Then, a double fault committed by his opponent paved the way to convert a crucial break in the 12th game, taking the opener 7-5 in 40 minutes.
In the second set, the resurgent Brit, playing his first tournament since the Australian Open due to injury, flipped the script and leveled up the final to force a decider.
Competing in his maiden championship match this season, his fifth overall, the 23-year-old aggressive game was neutralized by Rublev, whose performance on the return made a huge difference, recording a return rate of 139 compared to his adversary’s 93.
He came out firing in the third set, breaking twice before wrapping up proceedings 6-1, surging to victory in style.
In addition, he converted three of seven break points and won 79 percent of the points on his first serve.
Despite missing the title, the British No. 1 player can be proud of finishing runner-up on his comeback from injury, securing a new career high of No. 12 on Monday.
During the trophy ceremony, Draper said: “It’s been an amazing week. Andrey was too good today. We played some tough matches this week, and in the third set, he was just a bit too strong for me.
“I’m really proud of my efforts this week. Every day, I wake up and try to improve, so it’s a testament to my hard work. I suppose.”