Doha: Three-time Doha finalist Gael Monfils and rising Russian star Andrey Rublev will clash for the Qatar ExxonMobil Open title after taking contrasting routes to make it to the final here yesterday.
The 31-year-old Frenchman, ranked 46 in the world, walked his way to the summit clash without hitting a ball in the semi-finals as top seed Dominic Thiem withdrew due to fever while in the second semi-final Rublev, who has rapid strides for the last one year overcame the challenge of Guido Pella of Argentina in three sets.
This is the first final between two unseeded players in Doha since 2004, wherein Nicolas Escude and Ivan ljubicic vied for the top prize.
Yesterday at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, disappointment set in when they came to know that Austrian Thiem will not be playing his semi-final against Monfils.
World No.5 Thiem, stood tall, as all the other seven seeds around him crashed one by one, displayed top form throughout the tournament on way to straight sets wins in all his three encounters, until the semi-final mishit.
Thiem started his season in Qatar by defeating Evgeny Donskoy of Russia 7-6, 6-3 and followed it up by defeating AlJaz Bedene of Slovakia 7-5, 6-4.
In the quarter-finals on Thursday, the 24-year-old got past Greek qualifier Stefanos Tsitsipas. Thiem defeated the teenager 7-5, 6-4.
“Dominic Thiem pulls out from #Qatar_Exxonmobil_Open due to fever. #Qatartennis #tennis #Qatar #Doha,” Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF) announced on its twitter page.
An hour earlier before the QTF’s official announcement, Thiem wrote on his facebook page: “I have bad news, I am in bed with fever and there is almost no chance of a recovery until tonight.”
“It is highly regrettable that I won’t be able to play the semi-final match against Gael. I thank my fans and the organisers for their support,” he said.
“Of course I am disappointed, but nevertheless I had a solid start into the new season,” he added.
The Austrian hopes to be fit for the Australian Open which starts in 10 days time.
“Now I am focusing on Melbourne and being fit and prepared for the first Grand Slam of the year,” Thiem said.
In today’s final, both Monfils and Rublev will be looking for their first title in Doha.
Monfils arrived in Doha following a four-month hiatus following his injury at the US Open.
The Frenchman, who has lost the all the three finals he has contested so far in Doha, will be aiming to be lucky the fourth time.
Monfils finished runner-up to Roger Federer in 2006 and six years later also finished as runner-up to compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. In 2014 he lost in the final to Rafa Nadal.
Handed a wild card for this edition by the organizers, Monfils will be playing his 27 career final today.
In the quarter-finals on Thursday, Monfils saved a set point in the second set to beat German Peter Gojowczyk 6-3, 7-6(6).
Monfils last reached a semi-final in June 2017 at the International Eastbourne.
“I’m very sad for Dominic and I hope he will have a speedy recovery,” Monfils said about Thiem’s withdrawal which paved his way into the final.
“I’m happy to be in the final for the fourth time in Doha. I hope this one will be better than the other one. I’m just pleased the way that the year start and I’ll be ready for tomorrow,” he added.
The win in Qatar would be perfect boost for the season ahead he said.
“It would mean that after three attempts that I win the fourth one. So it would be -- I would be very happy because it’s a tournament that I really like and definitely to have this tournament would be great. It would give me a bit more confidence for the rest of the year.”
In the second semi-final, between Rublev and Pella, the 27-year old Argentinean ranked World N0.64 pushed hard for the victory but in the end the 20-year-old Russian survived a match point to take the third set into the tie-break and win the tie at 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2).
Rublev began on a promising note by winning the first set 6-2 with his attacking which was laced with errors.
Pella bounced back to win the second at 6-4 and take the game to the deciding set. The third set was a touch and go affair with both players determined to make their Doha debut a memorable one by featuring in the final.
Rublev was in trouble but came out of the tight corner tow in the decider in the tie-break.
