Andrey Rublev clinched the third title of his career at the Qatar Exxon Mobil Open after his 6-2 7-6 (7-3) win over French Next Gen player Corentin Moutet. Rublev won the first title of the 2020 season without dropping a set during the whole week in his four matches against Mikhail Kukushkin, Pierre Hugues Herbert, Miomir Kecmanovic and Corentin Moutet.
Rublev was playing his second final in Doha two years after finishing runner-up to Gael Monfils in 2018. The 22-year-old Russian player becomes the third youngest player in the history of the Doha Qatar Open to win this tournament after Andy Murray, who lifted the trophy in two consecutive editions in 2008 and 2009.
Moutet beat Milos Raonic and Stan Wawrinka en route to reaching his maiden ATP Tour final.
In Saturday’s final Rublev broke three times and faced only two break points and dropped his serve once in the second set, when he was leading by a set and a break.
Rublev earned the first break of the match in the second game after a volley error from Moutet. The young French player faced two break points in the fourth game, but he saved them. Rublev went up a double break in the eighth game to seal the first set 6-2 after 31 minutes.
Rublev won 13 of the first 16 points at the start of the second set to get the break in the second game after a volley error from Moutet. The Moscow native consolidatd the break with a service winner to race out to a 3-0 lead.
Moutet dropped just eight points in his next five service games and broke back in the seventh game. Both players held their next service games setting up a tie-break. Rublev went up a double mini-break to open up a 6-1 lead and sealed the tie-break 7-3 on his third championship point with a forehand.
Rublev becomes the second Russian player to win the Doha tournament following in the footsteps of Nikolay Davydenko, who lifted this trophy in 2010.
“It’s amazing. I am always really happy to play here. I always enjoy my time here and to finally win the title is something special for me. It’s an amazing start to the season for me and I hope can keep this level”,said Rublev.
