Draper & Rublev secure spots in Qatar Open final

Jack Draper and Andrey Rublev are set to face off in the Qatar Open tennis final on Saturday after both secured hard-fought victories in their respective three-set semifinals on Friday.

Rublev battled past Felix Auger-Aliassime in a grueling two-hour, 47-minute contest, winning 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(5).

The Russian faced a tough challenge against Auger-Aliassime’s dominant serve, which produced 21 aces throughout the match.

Despite struggling to break his opponent, Rublev eventually capitalized on his only match point at 6-5 in the final set tiebreak to seal the win.

“It was a tough match,” Rublev said after his victory.

“I felt like I couldn’t do much against his serve. He was one of the best servers on tour today, and I just had to wait for my opportunity. Eventually, it happened.”

Draper, meanwhile, continued his strong run with a convincing 6-3, 6-1 win over Jiri Lehecka.

The Brit showcased his versatile skillset, executing precise drop shots and well-placed volleys to keep his opponent off balance.

His serve was a major weapon, as he fired 14 aces and won 88% of his first serve points to dominate the match and book his place in his fifth ATP final.

“I feel great,” Draper said.

“My body is in good shape, and I’m excited for tomorrow. I’ll give it everything I’ve got.”

Betting markets anticipate a closely contested final, with Draper slightly favored over the 23-year-old Rublev with the best online betting sites.