Andrei Rublev is making a strong push towards reclaiming his past success at the Hamburg Open, having reached the semi-finals with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Luciano Darderi. This marks a significant turnaround for the Russian player, who had been struggling in recent months and dropped out of the top ten rankings.
Rublev expressed his relief and satisfaction, stating, “I’m happy to be in the semi-final. I was missing these kinds of matches, because I really need them, and I’m happy to be back in the semi-final.” This victory not only boosts his morale but also reinforces his need for competitive matches after winning only two of his last nine outings.
In the semi-finals, Rublev will face Felix Auger-Aliassime, who has a record of 6-1 against him. Their last meeting saw Rublev victorious at the 2024 Madrid championship on clay, setting the stage for an exciting clash. Auger-Aliassime himself had a challenging match, edging out Alexandre Muller 7-6(4), 6-7(8), 6-3.
Meanwhile, in another semi-final match-up, Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry reached his first tour-level semi-final, defeating Jiri Lehecka 7-5, 6-3. He will go on to face Flavio Cobolli, the Bucharest champion, who convincingly beat Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6(4), 6-0.
This week has proven to be a turning point for Rublev, as he aims to regain confidence and momentum leading up to potentially reclaiming the title he won in previous years. His determination and recent performance highlight the resilience often required in professional sports, providing hope for both the player and his supporters.