Rublev and Auger-Aliassime Face Off in Hamburg Semifinals

HAMBURG, Germany — In a thrilling semifinal showdown at the Hamburg Open, seeds Andrey Rublev and Felix Auger-Aliassime will battle for a spot in the championship match on Friday.

This year’s tournament marks a shift, as both players find themselves in the semifinals just three days before the start of the French Open. Rublev, currently ranked No. 17 in the world, has been seeking crucial points after struggling in recent months, while Auger-Aliassime is ranked No. 30 and just secured a French Open seed.

Rublev has shown signs of improvement, notching victories over Damir Dzumhur, Justin Engel, and Luciano Darderi to reach this stage. He expressed relief after defeating Darderi 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, saying, “I’m happy to be in the semi-final. I needed to struggle…but somehow you are winning.”

On the other hand, Auger-Aliassime earned his place in the semifinals with a dramatic win over Alexandre Muller, which took almost three hours to complete. He won 7-6(4), 6-7(6), 6-3, surviving several match points in a tense second set.

Rublev holds a significant advantage in their head-to-head history, leading 6-1, including a 2-0 record on clay. Their last encounter was in the 2024 Madrid final, where Rublev emerged victorious in a tight match.

Meanwhile, the other semifinal features an all-unseeded matchup between Flavio Cobolli and Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Cobolli, ranked 35th, has turned his season around after a rough start and enters the match with confidence, having defeated notable players like Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Etcheverry, ranked 55th, seeks to secure his first ATP title after impressing in previous rounds. Both players have clashed four times before, with Etcheverry winning every match, making this contest particularly intriguing.

The anticipated semifinals promise excitement as players vie for the chance to compete in the Hamburg Open final. Fans will be watching closely to see if Rublev can continue his winning ways or if Auger-Aliassime can upset the odds in his favor.

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on these matches leading into the French Open starting Sunday.