Andrey Rublev advances in Rotterdam, sets Felix clash | ATP Tour

Match Report

Rublev sets Felix clash; Hubi survives 3 MPs in Rotterdam

Struff claws past Davidovich Fokina

February 13, 2024

Andrey Rublev in action on Tuesday in Rotterdam.
By ATP Staff

Andrey Rublev’s impressive start to the season continued on Tuesday at the ABN AMRO Open, where the former champion moved past Belgian qualifier Zizou Bergs 7-5, 6-3 to set a second-round meeting with Felix Auger-Aliassime.

The World No. 5 player in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings hit with clean timing from the baseline throughout the 82-minute clash in Rotterdam. Rublev waited patiently for his chances on return, gaining the decisive break of the first set in the 12th game, before he raised his intensity and power in the second set to advance.

It was not easy,” Rublev said. “It was my first match here and I only had one day to practise, so I didn’t really feel comfortable yet. I was a bit more tight and nervous but in the second set I started to feel better and in the end I was able to win in straight sets.”

Rublev will renew his Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry with Auger-Aliassime on Wednesday in a battle between two former champions. Rublev, who leads the Canadian 3-1, won the title in Rotterdam in 2021. Auger-Aliassime triumphed at the ATP 500 in 2022.

Rublev now holds a 9-1 record on the season, having clinched his 15th tour-level title in Hong Kong. He also advanced to the quarter-finals at the Australian Open, where he fell to eventual champion Jannik Sinner.

Jan-Lennard Struff also advanced, beating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(4). The big-serving German fired 16 aces and won 86 per cent (49/57) of his first-serve points to triumph after two hours and 28 minutes. The World No. 25 will next meet Ugo Humbert or Emil Ruusuvuori.

Fourth seed Hubert Hurkacz saved three match points in a tense third-set tie-break to hold off Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-7(9), 7-6(9) in two hours and 17 minutes to reach the second round.

The World No. 8 Pole let slip three match points in the second-set tie-break and later saved three match points himself in the third-set tie-break before closing out the match 11/9 in the deciding ‘breaker on his sixth match point.

Lehecka played bold tennis, winning 23 of 26 net approaches, but he couldn’t crack the serve of Hurkacz, who fired 18 aces and saved the three break points he faced.

After winning the Adelaide title in the second week of the season, the World No. 32 Lehecka has not advanced beyond the second round in his past three events.