Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic continues his inspired run at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in the United Arab Emirates, rallying to earn a spot in the final with a 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3) victory Friday over Denis Shapovalov of Canada.
Vesely, a qualifier who knocked Novak Djokovic out of the No. 1 spot in the world with a quarterfinal victory Thursday, will face Russia’s Andrey Rublev in the final. Rublev, the No. 2 seed, knocked off fifth-seeded Hubert Hurkacz of Poland 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5) in the other semifinal.
Vesely had 15 aces and won 81.8 percent of his first-serve points while winning the marathon three-hour, 12-minute match over the sixth-seeded Shapovalov. Rublev overcame 27 aces by Hurkacz and won by taking four of the last five points in the third-set tiebreaker.
After his victory, the 24-year-old Rublev wrote “NO War Please” on a television camera in reference to his homeland’s invasion of Ukraine.
Abierto Mexicano Telcel
Spain’s Rafael Nadal defeated top-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals at Acapulco, Mexico.
The fourth-seeded Nadal saved all 11 break points he faced in improving to 14-0 on the year.
He will face fellow lefty Cameron Norrie of Great Britain in the final. Norrie defeated No. 3 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece 6-4, 6-4 in their semifinal match. Norrie extended his winning streak to eight and will competing for his fourth ATP Tour title on Saturday.
Chile Dove Men+Care Open
Unseeded Chilean Alejandro Tabilo recorded another upset, defeating No. 6 seed Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia 6-1, 6-4 in the quarterfinals at Santiago, Chile.
Tabilo upset top-seeded Cristian Garin to reach the quarters.
Second-seeded Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain advanced to the semifinals with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Facundo Bagnis of Argentina. Spaniard and No. 4 seed Pedro Martinez defeated Yannick Hanfmann of Germany 6-2, 6-2. Argentine Sebastian Baez advanced with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 win over Brazilian Thiago Monteiro.
–Field Level Media
