Alexander Zverev and Andrey Rublev will face each other in the semi-final of the 2023 Dubai Tennis Championships on Friday, March 3.
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In the quarterfinals of the ATP Dubai, Alexander Zverev defeated Lorenzo Sonego by a score of 7-5 6-4, making progress on his road to the top once again. His ability to rely on his serves in crucial situations improved his performance, even though he still has a ways to go before reaching his peak. Notably, he avoided three straight breakpoints at 0-1 in the first set and 5-4 in the second, which unquestionably bodes well for his future confidence. His serve was his only reliable weapon for several weeks after rejoining competitive play following his injury break, and even that wasn’t operating at its usual level.
The former world #2 has steadily improved with each match, as evidenced by his performances against Jiri Lehecka, and that deserves recognition. In his first match of the year at the United Cup, he was defeated by the young Czech player in two straightforward sets, but he was able to exact revenge this week by winning in three sets in the opening round of the ATP Dubai tournament. For the first time since his unfortunate incident at the French Open in 2022, the top-ranked German has advanced to the semifinals of a tournament on the tour.
Andrey Rublev was serving for the match in the second set of their ATP Dubai match against Botic Van De Zandschulp when he dropped his serve, preventing him from recording his first flawless victory of the tournament. Despite this, he had a relatively easy match, especially in light of his difficulties in earlier rounds. He fell behind 2-5 in the opening set of his match against Filip Krajinovic in the first round. Similar to how Alejandro Davidovich Fokina pushed him to the limit in the second round, he had to hold off five straight match points in the second-set tiebreaker.
The top-ranked Russian player has won eight games and advanced to the quarterfinals of three tournaments, including the Australian Open. Although almost all of his victories have come against players who are currently out of form, are having fitness issues, or who have faltered just before winning, he has yet to achieve a truly convincing victory. Throughout his career, he has had trouble giving his best performances in important games and against players of the highest calibre. The one accomplishment he can be proud of, though, is his outstanding performance at the ATP 500 level.
| Alexander Zverev vs Andrey Rublev | Match details |
|---|---|
| Date | March 3, 2023 |
| Surface | Hard |
| Tournament | Dubai Tennis Championships |
| Stage | Semi-final |
| Time (India) | 6:30 pm |
| Time (Dubai) | 5 pm |
| Opponent | Score |
|---|---|
| Lorenzo Sonego | 7-5, 6-4 (W) |
| Christopher O’Connell | 7-5, 6-4 (W) |
| Jiri Lehecka | 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 (W) |
| Andy Murray | 6-7, 6-2, 5-7 (L) |
| Tallon Griekspoor | 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 (L) |
| Opponent | Score |
|---|---|
| Botic van de Zandschulp | 6-3, 7-6 (W) |
| Alejandro Davidovich Fokina | 6-1, 6-7, 6-7 (W) |
| Filip Krajinovic | 7-5, 6-2 (W) |
| Jiri Lehecka | 6-4, 4-6, 3-6 (L) |
| Tallon Griekspoor | 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (W) |
Read More – ATP Dubai Tennis Championships 2023: Preview, Where to watch, Schedule, Dates, Seeds, Prize Money, Live Streaming details
5-1 in favour of Alexander Zverev. The German is much more reliable and consistent, and Andrey Rublev only has a chance in this matchup for a spot in the ATP Dubai finals because of his recent lack of match practise and fitness.
Alexander Zverev and Andrey Rublev will face each other in the semi-final of the 2023 Dubai Tennis Championships on Friday, March 3.
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