Auger-Aliassime's comeback denied by Russia's Rublev in Qatar Open semifinal




Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime had his comeback attempt fall just short in a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (5) loss to Andrey Rublev on Friday in the semifinals of the Qatar Open.

Down 6-3 in the third-set tiebreaker, Auger-Aliassime scored the next two points on serve. But when the serve rotated to Rublev, the fifth-seeded Russian converted on his third match point.

Auger-Aliassime lost despite firing 21 aces in the match. The world No. 23 failed to convert what turned out to be a crucial break-point chance in the first game of the third set as the players held serve the rest of the way.

Rublev took the first set when he broke Auger-Aliassime in the clinching game, but the Canadian responded with a strong second set in which he fired seven aces and won 81 per cent of service points.

Rublev improved to 6-1 against Auger-Aliassime and will next face the winner of a match between eighth-seeded Briton Jack Draper and Czechia's Jiri Lehecka, who advanced to the final four with a shocking quarterfinal upset of top seed Carlos Alcaraz.

WATCH l Auger-Aliassime edged by Rublev in Qatar Open semifinal:

Auger-Aliassime falls to Rublev in Qatar Open semifinal battle

Russian Andrey Rublev bested Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(5) in the semifinals of the Qatar Open in Doha.

Auger-Aliassime had advanced to the semifinal of the ATP 500 tournament after fourth seed Daniil Medvedev retired from their quarterfinal with food poisoning after dropping the first set 6-3.

The 24-year-old Canadian has a 14-4 record this season after winning titles last month in Adelaide, Australia and Montpellier, France.



Source link

Posted: 2025-02-22 06:06:05

Ronnie O’Sullivan holds narrow lead over Ali Carter in World Snooker Championship | World Snooker Championship
 



... Read More

New book by author who has readers ‘hooked the entire time’ to hit UK shops on Thursday | Books | Entertainment
 



... Read More

'Never give up': These baseball teams have both snapped a combined 141-game losing streak
 



... Read More

As Palestinians look for shelter, some pitch their tents next to landfill in Gaza City
 



... Read More

Stephen Bunting breaks silence after Luke Littler rout on miserable Premier League night | Other | Sport
 



... Read More

Darts star slapped with eight-year ban and huge fine after match-fixing investigation | Other | Sport
 



... Read More

Actor Gene Hackman and his wife found dead in their New Mexico home
 



... Read More

Princess Kate’s favourite earrings reduced to £78 in Missoma's flash sale | Royal | News
 



... Read More