Spanish win keeps Rublev in the chase to Turin

Andrey Rublev stays in the chase for one of the last two remaining spots for the ATP Finals as he beat good friend Dominic Thiem 6-4. 6-4 on Saturday to reach the finals in Gijon.

The top seed this week at the fill-in event on Spain’s northern Atlantic coast broke in the final game of both sets to dispatch Austria’s former US Open winner in 96 minutes.

Rublev will be playing his fourth final of the season and will face American Sebastian Korda who defeated Arthur Rinderknech 7-6(2), 6-3.

The Frenchman who lost his grandfather in recent days, saved nine match points in his quarter-final win over Pablo Carreno Busta on Friday 18-16 in a final-set tiebreaker.

Korda will play his first ATP final in nearly a year and a half since winning Parma in May, 2021.

The youngster followed up on his quarter-final ouster of Andy Murray here, winning with eight aces and saving all of the three break points against his serve.

The 22-year-old ranked 47th now owns 30 match wins this season.  

“It was a really good match that came down to a couple of games here and there,” he said.

“I’ve very, very happy and excited for tomorrow.

“It’s going to be very difficult, but I’m ready to go.”

Thiem, who once stood third in the world, has been battling through a comeback season after a June, 2021 wrist injury.

Rublev stands provisional sixth in the season points race to Turin next month, duelling for Daniil Medvedev, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Taylor Fritz for one of three remaining spots at the eight-man Italian showpiece.

“I’m feeling excited, one more final this season,” Rublev said after winning titles in Belgrade, Dubai and Marseille.

“There are a lot of important tournaments at the end of the season, if I play well I can qualify for the (ATP) Finals).

“There are so many players and only a few spots left – everything can change in a week.”

Rublev won his fourth match in a row over Thiem – all in straight sets – out of six played.

Rublev was broken  while serving for the opening set, but broke back to take the early lead after barely hanging onto a 4-1 lead.

“When I was winning 4-1 with a break point for 5-1 it looks like the match is going my way and then I’m at 5-4 with him serving,” he said. 

“That’s not easy to accept, but I was lucky I played a really good game and Dominic helped me out a little bit.

“Then I felt more confident and I was able to win in two sets, which was the most important thing. 

“This week I have been playing really well and I’ll try to show my best tennis of the week tomorrow.”