DOHA, January 6, 2018

Andrey Rublev and Gael Monfils will compete in Saturday’s singles final at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open held at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha.

Rublev battled past Guido Pella of Argentian in a classic semi-final 6-2, 4-6, 7-6. The #NextGenATP star from Russia saved one match point to prevail after two hours and 25 minutes.

“It feels amazing. I have no words to describe this match,” Rublev said. “I think it was such an amazing match for both of us. We made amazing rallies, such unreal rallies. I’m really happy that I won. I can say only good job to Pella for how he played. The way he played, it’s unreal. I think we made a great battle, I think people enjoyed… I think everybody’s happy.”

Thiem Withdraws

Gael Monfils benefited from a walkover, as top seed Dominic Thiem was forced to withdraw from his match against the Frenchman due to fever.

I’m very sad for Dominic and I hope he will have a speedy recovery,” Monfils said. “I’m happy to be in the final for the fourth time here. I hope this one will be better than the other ones. I’m just pleased [with] the way the year has started and I’ll be ready for tomorrow.”

Rublev will go for his second title after earning his first at the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag last July as a lucky loser. The runner-up at the inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan last November is projected to crack the Top 30 in the ATP Rankings for the first time if he clinches the trophy on Saturday.

Monfils, who will play Rublev for the first time, has finished runner-up at the ATP World Tour 250 event three times and wants to lift his first trophy in the desert.

“I will be very happy because it’s a tournament that I really like,” Monfils said. “It’ll give me a bit more confidence for the rest of the year.”