By Erik Gudris | Saturday, August 4, 2018
Australia’s Alex de Minaur saved four match points over Andrey Rublev to reach the Citi Open final.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Alex de Minaur’s nickname is “Demon”. And it’s possible Andrey Rubley may have some nightmares after he lost four match points late in a second set tibreak in his Citi Open semifinal to the young Australian. Now it’s the 19-year-old de Minaur who enters his first ATP 500 final after a gritty three set comeback win.
ATP: Defending Champion Zverev Returns to Citi Open Final
The fast-rising de Minaur now will face defending champion Alexander Zverev after the Australian secured the hard-fought 5-7, 7-6(6), 6-4 win in one of the longest and best matches of the week in Washington, D.C.
“I was just fighting until the end. I told myself I wasn’t going to give up and the crowd helped me through that match and I really appreciate and thank them for that,” de Minaur said to Tennis Channel about saving the four match points.
The 16th seeded Rublev entered already having had to play his rain postponed quarterfinal earlier in the day against Denis Kudla which he won 6-1, 6-4. That earlier match didn’t seem to effect the 20-year-old Russian at the start of his later semifinal with de Minaur.
The close first set went the way of the hard hitting Russian 7-5.
Though Rublev looked in control, the stubborn defense of de Minaur would soon proved to be the turning point not only of the second set, but the match.
Rublev opened up a 6-2 lead in the second set tiebreak. But despite Rublev holding four match points, de Minaur’s incredible foot speed and ability to turn defense into offense allowed him to save all four match points.
Soon de Minaur served out the second set to the delight of the local crowd who found themselves treated to another compelling set of tennis.
Both players traded service breaks early in the final set. Rublev began to show some signs of weariness of having played a match earlier and now being locked in a nearly three hour battle with the Australian. For de Minaur, the goal was to keep up the intensity, but stay focused on what he needed to do to win.
“It was a very taxing match, a lot of hard hitting, and running. Once I got up the 4-2 break, I really tried to slow down and concentrate on point by point. But I didn’t play one of the greatest games. He put a lot of pressure on me. So I had to reset and keep going.”
Rublev soon found himself serving at 4-5 to stay in the match. The Russian saved two match points, one after winning a 19-shot rally. But the cumlutive effect of de Minaur’s defense and tenacity finally wore down Rublev. Facing a third match point, a tired Rublev served a double fault ending the captivating battle.
de Minaur now enters his second final of the season having reached the Sydney final back in January. He’ll next face defending champion Alexander Zverev who earlier beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets.