Monte Carlo Masters 2023: Andrey Rublev fights back to beat Taylor Fritz in rain-delayed semi-final

Andrey Rublev came from a set down to battle past Taylor Fritz in a rain-delayed Monte Carlo Masters semi-final victory and take a step closer to his first ATP 1000 title.

The fifth seed triumphed 5-7 6-1 6-3 in the first meeting on clay between the pair, but the match was suspended for almost two hours in the third set due to a downpour.

Rublev will now compete in his second Monte Carlo final in three years on Sunday against either Jannik Sinner or Holger Rune, after finishing as runner-up to Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2021.

“It was really tough, especially against Taylor,” Rublev said after the match. “I lost the past three times [against him] I think, [including] in Indian Wells in the semi-finals. It was tough mentally to play against him because I was thinking if I would have [a chance].

“I started really well and then I was up a break and then he broke me back, but I knew I would have chances. In the end, we had a great match and I am pleased with the win.”

There were 13 breaks of serve in a topsy-turvy match, but Rublev endured by hitting 26 winners to Fritz’s 21 and keeping his unforced error count to 16 against the American’s 26.

Rublev got off to a fast start with a break in the opening game, as an unforced error from Fritz at 30-40 saw him sacrifice a six-minute opener.

Two aces helped the Russian to a solid hold and a 2-0 lead, but Fritz held firm on serve before breaking back in game four.

The American sealed the leveller in style, producing some superb defensive play in a long rally before pouncing on a short backhand slice to bury a forehand winner into the corner.

Rublev immediately broke back, coughing up two break points but taking a third in an eight-minute game, but Fritz responded in kind, coming back from 40-15 down level things up at 3-3.

After four breaks of serve in the opening six games, both players finally managed to hold again – but not for long. Fritz saved two break points to take game nine to deuce, but couldn’t save a third break point as Rublev earned the chance to serve out the opening set.

He couldn’t take it, though, winning the opening point but losing the next four, with the American hitting two winners to level it up at 5-5.

Fritz landed an ace on his way to a vital hold to wrestle the set back in his favour, before winning four points in a row from 15-40 down on Rublev’s serve to break for the fourth time and edge the opening set.

After a rollercoaster opening set, Rublev fought back with ferocity in a dominant second-set performance. The Russian again broke in the opening game, but this time he stayed strong on serve too, saving three break points and breaking Fritz three times to send the semi-final to a decider.

For the first time, both players managed to hold their opening service games, but Fritz soon made the breakthrough, setting up two break chances and taking the first thanks to an unforced error.

The nerves showed again though, as a Fritz forehand floated long to hand Rublev two break points in the subsequent game.

Fritz saved the first with a forehand winner down the line after some more outstanding defensive work in a 40-shot rally, but the Russian fizzed a backhand winner down the line and roared with delight as he took his second chance to level it at 2-2.

Umbrellas appeared in the crowd as raindrops started to fall, and a love hold was just what Rublev needed as he edged back in front just before the match was suspended due to the conditions.

After a delay of almost two hours, Rublev instantly took control of the match with a break and hold to go 5-2 up.

The fifth seed pushed for the victory on Fritz’s serve, but the American managed to save three match points, the first with an ace, to keep himself in the contest. However, he wasn’t even close to breaking back as Rublev served out the match with a love hold.

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