Alexander Bublik ran into a familiar face in the ATP Newport quarter-finals on Friday and sent his greetings with a 7-5, 6-4 ouster of Andy Murray.
The 42nd-ranked, third-seeded Kazakh defeated Murray, 52nd, in less than two hours to reach the final four on the US East coast.
The pair were facing off for the fourth time this season with their record in 2022 now standing level at two wins apiece.
Bublik took revenge for his most recent loss to the Scot last month in Stuttgart.
“It’s great to be in the semi-finals again.” the winner said. “I came here only for one week, so I have to be engaged to play, I want to try to get as many matches as I can.”
Murray saved a pair of match points in the final game on the grass before taking the loss.
The three-time Grand Slam winner went down to defeat as Bublik swept four of the last five games of the afternoon.
Murray will switch over the hardcourts as he plays in Washington later this month, a tuneup event for the US Open starting on August 29.
Main photo:- Alexander Bublik winning inn Newport ©International Hall of Fame
Andy Murray will make a return to the Stuttgart grass next month, two years after…
Stefanos Tsitaipas spent an hour in matching Alex de Minaur move for move to deliver…
Iga Swiatek stretched her clay court winning run to 10 consecutive matches as she schooled…
No-drama Taylor Fritz saved all 11 break points he faced and threw down 13 aces in…
Iga Swiatek came through a struggle with a fellow No. 1 as the top seed…
Stefanos Tsitsipas blasted through a tiebreaker to complete a satisfying 6-2, 7-6 win over Briton Cam…