Alexander Bublik, Ugo Humbert advance to Dubai final

Field Level Media|published: Fri 1st March, 13:18 2024

Jan 23, 2024; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Andrey Rublev of Russia reacts during his match against Jannik Sinner of Italy in the quarter final of the men s singles. credits: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports

No. 7 seed Alexander Bublik and No. 5 Ugo Humbert will meet in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships final after an eventful semifinal round Friday.

Bublik was ahead 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-5 when No. 2 seed Andrey Rublev of Russia was defaulted for unsportsmanlike conduct after making comments to a line judge.

Bublik, of Kazakhstan, finished the two-hour, 31-minute match with 21 aces and saved 11 of 14 break points. He posted 42 winners and 13 unforced errors, compared to 36 and 11 for Rublev.

Humbert took down top-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia 7-5, 6-3 in under two hours. The Frenchman saved all but one of the eight break points he faced and finished with a 30-21 advantage in winners.

—Field Level Media