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Rublev downs de Minaur on eighth match point in Qatar / Photo: © AFP
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Rublev downs de Minaur on eighth match point in Qatar
Andrey Rublev converted his eighth match point against second seed Alex de Minaur to seal a semi-final spot at the Qatar Open on Thursday.
The Russian, a Qatar winner in 2020, had to dig deep to down the Australian 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (10/8).
Fifth-seeded Rublev let slip a 5-2 lead in the final set as de Minaur scrambled back into contention to force a tiebreak.
Rublev finally got over the line, the 27-year-old saving a match point himself in a memorable quarter-final clash in Doha.
"When I had my first match point, I played really well," said Rublev.
"I did everything amazing and he just played an unreal rally. He made the backhand down the line and I played a good volley.
"Then he makes a forehand pass down the line. In most of the matches, normally after these points, they win - it's a turning (point).
"I then started to get a bit more tight and more emotional, I was a bit unlucky. Then when I lost my serve, I said 'Okay, whatever, if I'm gonna lose, at least just try to do your best until the end'."
This was his first win against a Top 10 player since August last year.
Rublev's reward for his fourth semi-final appearance in Qatar was a meeting with Felix Auger-Aliassime.
The Canadian was leading his quarter-final against Daniil Medvedev 6-3 when the Russian had to retire.
The quarter-final line-up is completed by top seed Carlos Alcaraz who faces the Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka while Jack Draper plays Matteo Berrettini who knocked out Novak Djokovic in the second round.
N.Wilson--SFF
