ATP roundup: Andrey Rublev claims second Qatar Open title, Sebastian Baez eyes Rio Open repeat

Andrey Rublev secured his second Qatar ExxonMobil Open title with a hard-fought 7-5, 5-7, 6-1 victory over Great Britain’s Jack Draper in Doha on Saturday. The fifth-seeded Russian unleashed 34 winners, including 10 aces, to claim his 17th ATP Tour title—his first since winning the Madrid Masters in May 2023. With this victory, Rublev, who previously won in Doha in 2020, will rise to No. 9 in the ATP rankings.

Rublev’s dominant first serve played a crucial role in the match, winning 78.9% (45 of 57) of his first-serve points while saving two of three break opportunities. Draper, seeking his third career title, showed resilience but ultimately fell short. However, the Brit will reach a career-high ranking of No. 12 when the new ATP standings are released on Monday.

Meanwhile, at the Rio Open, defending champion Sebastian Baez staged an impressive comeback in the semifinals, overcoming fellow Argentine Camilo Ugo Carabelli 3-6, 6-1, 6-1. After dropping the first set, the fifth seed shifted gears, winning 12 of the next 14 games to keep his hopes alive for a historic second title in Rio. Baez fired seven aces, converted six of ten break points, and defended two of five against his opponent.

In the final, Baez will face France’s Alexandre Muller, who booked his spot in his first ATP 500 final with a 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-3 win over Argentina’s Francisco Comesana. Muller demonstrated clutch play, saving five of eight break points while capitalizing on five of his ten opportunities. The stage is now set for an exciting championship showdown in Rio.

SportsLigue