Saturday, 6 January 2018

Russia’s Andrey Rublev meet french Gael Monfils for the Qatar Exxon Mobil Final

The 20-year-old fought tooth-and-nail with Pella, eventually saving a match point while serving at 4-5 before clinching his victory with a well-played tiebreaker to earn a spot in his second career final.

Rublev’s 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(2) victory sets a final with Gael Monfils, who advanced when Dominic Thiem pulled out due to illness.

The physical, thrilling encounter lasted two hours and 26 minutes and left Rublev feeling elated.

"It feels amazing. I have no words to describe this match," Rublev said. "I think it was such an amazing match for both of us. We made amazing rallies, such unreal rallies. I'm really happy that I won. I can say only good job to Pella for how he played.”

Monfils will contest his 27th ATP final. He is a three-time runner-up at Doha and last reached the final in 2014 (loss to Nadal).

Monfils is contesting his first event since the U.S. Open after spending time during winter rehabbing from a knee injury.

He and Rublev have never met. The Russian can crack the Top 30 for the first time with a title in Doha. 



Dimitrov was dethrones kyrgios to reach final

Australian Nick Kyrgios stands one win away from a first tour title on home soil after upsetting defending champion Grigor Dimitrov in the Brisbane International semifinals on Saturday.it was an interesting match between the two.Kyrgios’s 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 triumph over the No.1 seed was his first in three attempts and marked the third time in as many matches he was forced to a deciding set to get the job done.
All hopes of an all-Australian final in his defeat of teenage wildcard Alex De Minaur, leaving Kyrgios to fly the flag in a bid to become the first home champion since Lleyton Hewitt in 2014.In the men’s doubles semifinals, Harrison and Dimitrov were due to face top seeds John Peers and Henri Kontinen but Harrison withdrew, following his singles triumph.
It means Peers will attempt to become the first player to win three Brisbane International titles.