Top seed Andrey Rublev edged past 2022 champion Lorenzo Sonego 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 after 1 hour and 54 minutes in a hard-fought match dominated by the server.
Rublev saved each of the five break points he faced in the first set.
Sonego faced two break points in the third game, but he saved them at deuce. Rublev saved a break point in the next game. Rublev had to save three break points in in the eighth game. Sonego fended off two break points in the 11th game but he missed a set point in the 12th game. Rublev raced out to a 4-0 lead with two mini-breaks. Sonego pulled one mini-break back in the seventh game for 2-5. Rublev earned his third mini-break to win the tie-break 7-3. The second set went on serve without any break points until the 12th game when Rublev earned the only break on his second match point to become the highest ranked player to reach the quarter final in Metz.
Rublev has drawn level to 2-2 in his four head-to-head matches against Sonego.
Rublev has withdrawn from the tournament citing addominal pain. The winner of the match between Jan Lennard Struff and Corentin Moutet will advance to the semifinal.
After the withdrawal of Novak Djokovic due to injury Rublev, Casper Ruud and Alex De Minaur have claimed the final three spots in the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
“It was a tough match. He is playing really well. He beat me the last two times. Here in Metz you play against great players because the level of tennis is very even now. With the speed of the surface, the tennis becomes more even”, said Rublev.
Alex Michelsen saved two match points in the tie-break of the third set to beat Richard Gasquet 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (10-8). Gasquet earned the first break in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. Michelsen broke back in the 10th game to draw level to 5-5. Gasquet earned an early mini-break to open up a 3-0 lead. Michelsen won four consecutive points to take a 4-3 lead, but Gasquet came back by winning the final four points with two mini-breaks to take the tie-break 7-4.
The second set went on serve en route to the tie-break. Michelsen raced out to a 5-0 lead with three mini-breaks. Gasquet pulled two mini-breaks back from 2-5, but Michelsen won two the next three next points including a fourth mini-break to win the second tie-break 7-3. Gasquet raced out to a 4-0 kead and earned two match points at 6-4, but Michelsen turned the tables and took the win on his third match point.
