Andrey Rublev came back from a set down to knock out defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 4-6 6-3 6-2 in Madrid.
The world number eight is into the semi-finals in the Spanish capital after coming back from a set down to defeat the defending champion.
Now Rublev awaits either Taylor Fritz or Francisco Cerundolo in the last four on Friday.
Despite threatening the break early on, the opening set didn’t go Rublev’s way as Alcaraz was too efficient on return as he broke in the fifth game for a 3-2 lead.
The Spaniard produced some incredible point construction as he made Rublev around the court as Alcaraz continued his confident week.
As for Rublev, he kept committing unforced errors as he allowed the Spaniard to create too more break points in the ninth game.
Rublev was clutch enough to hold off the Alcaraz threat but he couldn’t provide that killer instinct on return as the Spaniard wrapped up the opening set in 42 minutes.
However Rublev responded well to turn the match around as Alcaraz’s energy started to fade after his three set epic with Jan-Lennard Struff the day before.
The seventh seed took full advantage to break for a 2-0 lead and continued to threaten Alcaraz throughout the set.
Despite Rublev being frustrated throughout the set, the world number eight remained composed in big moments as he saved three break points from Alcaraz in the set to level the match at one set all.
The unforced errors continued to mount from Alcaraz in the third set as Rublev continued his big-hitting from the baseline.
Two breaks of serve in the opening and fifth game secured the win and a place in the last four.
After the match Rublev praised his serving today and spoke about his recent losing streak, “I think the serve saved me a lot of times today,” Rublev told the ATP website.
“I think the key was I was completely calm the whole match. I did not say one word, even if I was losing. That was the key and I was able to serve even better near the end. In the beginning, I was not serving that well but little by little, after set one, I served better and better and finished really well.
“When you start to think of how good everything is, then for six weeks I was not winning at all. So it is better to not think at all. That it is just a moment and it happens to everyone.
“Everyone has been through these moments and the most important thing is to keep working and keep improving.”
A gutting defeat for Alcaraz who now heads to Rome in search of more match practice ahead of Roland Garros.
As for Rublev he will face Taylor Fritz or Francisco Cerundolo for a place in the Madrid final on Friday.
