Rublev to Face Defending Champ Darderi for Bastad Title

It will be a battle of former champions for the title Sunday in Bastad. 

2023 champion Andrey Rublev defeated Alejandro Tabilo to set a clash with defending champion Luciano Darderi on Sunday. 

Rublev notched his 100th career clay court win, converting his fourth match point to take down the Chilean southpaw, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. The Russian moves into his 30th career ATP final and second of 2026. 

He was made to work for it. 

Tabilo hit back in the second set, breaking Rublev in the final game of the set just after the top seed had fought to get back on serve by converting his third break point for 4-5. 

Rublev righted the ship in the third set with a critical break in the seventh game. He then saved a break point in the next game to hold for 5-3. 

Tabilo saved two match points while serving at 3-5, and another with Rublev saving for the match but he could not hold Rublev off in the end. 

“I feel great,” Rublev said. “I feel happy to be back in the final in Bastad – I’m grateful for the opportunity to play in another final here. 

Rublev converted three of 13 break points in the match as he won 63 percent of points against Tabilo’s second serve. The Russian fired 21 forehand winners in the two hour and 10 minute contest. 

Earlier in the day defending champion Darderi improved to 8-0 lifetime in Bastad with a 6-4, 6-7(11), 6-3 win over Adolfo Daniel Vallejo. He is the first man to reach back-to-back finals in the Swedish seaside town since Robin Soderling in 2011. 

18th-ranked Darderi is into his seventh career final (5-1) – all of them have come on clay. The Italian tied Alexander Zverev for the lead in ATP clay court wins in 2026 (20-9). 

Rublev, ranked 16, will bid for his 18th ATP title.