Andrey Rublev needed two tiebreaks to stage an almighty comeback after winning from a set and five match points down to overcome an ever-improving Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
The defending champion faced losing his grip on the Dubai Championships trophy early after being bullied for much of his second-round match against the young Spaniard but somehow managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat as he triumphed 1-6, 7-6, 7-6 in two and a half hours of blistering tennis.
Rublev had to work hard just to avoid the dreaded bagel in the first set as his younger opponent raced out the traps with two early breaks of serve. Very few players dominate World No.6 Rublev, but Davidovich Fokina was doing so, dictating play with some strong backhands. But Rublev staved off the indignation of losing a set without marking the scoreboard when coming through a tricky service game at 5-0 down.
Davidovich Fokina was thriving on the tempo of the rallies and confidently wrapped up a strong opening set when Rublev couldn’t return a serve out wide. It was a remarkable set of tennis and one that few could have predicted pre-match as Rublev’s grip on the Dubai Championships title looked like slipping.
The only way was up from here for the Russian and he enjoyed his most comfortable hold of the match after Davidovich Fokina sent a crosscourt backhand wide. But he couldn’t make any in-roads on the Spaniard’s serve and the pair shared service holds to reach 6-6 without a break point faced by either. Davidovich Fokina held a 3-15 record over ATP Top 10 players but has never triumphed against one on the hard courts, and could have been forgiven for thinking his time had finally come as he sprinted to a 6-1 lead and five match points.
But to beat the top players you need to take the opportunities presented to you and, remarkably, back came Rublev, reeling off the next seven points to take it 8-6 and level up the match, accompanied by a massive roar of delight by the Russian. It was now the Spaniard's turn to respond to a setback and it was all getting a little hot in the Dubai heat as he was forced to fight off his first break points of the match in game four.
It was a cagey final set and Davidovich Fokina must have feared going into another tiebreak after what had come before. But it was a tiebreak that would decide the tussle as it was Rublev this time that went through a set without facing a break point. The number two seed made sure another epic comeback wasn't needed as he took control of the breaker with a mini-break on the first point.
And he completed his 'Houdini' act when his attempted passing shot was only parried by Davidovich Fokina to continue on his defence of the Dubai title. An astonishing escape for Rublev and a match Davidovich Fokina may take some time to get over.
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