Zverev's Halle Open charge ends at hands of Bublik, set to face Rublev in final

Saturday, 24 June 2023 at 17:48

The final is set at the 2023 Halle Open with Alexander Bublik set to face Andrey Rublev on Sunday afternoon.

Bublik saw off home favourite Alexander Zverev in a battle of the Sascha's on Saturday afternoon 6-3, 7-5.

It was a strong effort from the Kazakh who heads towards his first grass court title. He hit 14 aces and won 94 per cent of points behind his first serve to advance after 88 minutes.

"The job is not finished, there is one last match," Bublik said. "I am happy but I try to stay focused. I tried to play my game and i am really happy with the win today. Playing Sascha is really tough and I was a bit lucky in the key moments. When you play against a top player like Sascha, you need all the weapons to work."

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But while the job is not done, he is up 15 spots already in the live ATP Rankings following his run to the final which has also seen victories over Jannik Sinner and Jan-Lennard Struff. He has reached the final in Newport twice in 2019 and 2022 and now faces Rublev.

He saw off Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 6-4. It is a fourth final of 2023 for Rublev.

A 23rd in all for Rublev and has reached the final for the second time in the last three years. He's one win away also from having at least an ATP 500 on each surface. Superb from the Russian.

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Mario Boccardi

@marioboc17

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This has been a great match Andrey Rublev defeats Roberto Bautista Agut and reaches the ATP 500 Halle F for the 2nd time out of the last 3 years 6-3, 6-4 21st career final, he’s one win away from having at least an ATP 500 title on each surface