ATP Dubai: Aslan Karatsev ends Andrey Rublev's successful run
Aslan Karatsev endedAndrey Rublev's winning streak in ATP 500 tournaments in the semifinals of the event in Dubai. The 27-year-old hit his compatriot in three sentences.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Mar 19, 2021, 07:26 pm
Andrey Rublev had won 23 matches in a row before the semifinals in Dubai at the ATP 500 level, but this run of success should now come to an end in the United Arab Emirates. Compatriot Aslan Karatsev, who surprisingly reached the semifinals at the Australian Open , turned out to be too strong in the 6: 2, 4: 6 and 6: 4 successes.
Especially in the first round Karatsev showed an impressive performance and gave his opponent no chance at all. Also in set two the older of the two Russians was the better player for long stretches of the game, but Rublev held out thanks to a great fighting performance in the match and also broke Karatsev's 6: 4 with two double errors.
In the third section, the world ranking 42. but then quickly again for the old conditions. After two breaks to 2: 1 and 5: 2, the 27-year-old could not serve in the first attempt, but in the second attempt Karatsev managed his service despite two breakballs for Rublev and thanks to the three-set success he qualified for the first ATP-500- Finale of his career.
In the final, Karatsev faces surprise man Lloyd Harris, who defeated Denis Shapovalov in a highly dramatic match in three sets in the semifinals .