Rublev arrived in Portugal riding a five-match winning streak after lifting the title in Bastad on Sunday, but Van Assche matched and surpassed his opponent\u2019s firepower to complete a remarkable two-hour, 15-minute comeback. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 22-year-old Frenchman, who is into his first ATP Tour semi-final after falling in his previous three tour-level quarter-finals, will next face countryman Hugo Gaston at the clay-court ATP 250 event.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI\u2019m very, very happy about the win today. It\u2019s the best win of my career so far,\u201d Van Assche, the No. 78 player in the ATP Rankings, said. \u201cIt means a lot to me. It was a tough match. I\u2019m happy with the level I played. I love Portugal. I\u2019ve played well here during my career so far. It\u2019s a place that I love, and to be in the semifinals, it\u2019s a great step in my career.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rublev saved all five break points he faced in the opening set, according to ATP Stats, but could not hold off Van Assche's relentless surge after the opener. The Frenchman raised his level as the match wore on, repeatedly coming out on top in extended forehand-to-forehand exchanges to level their ATP head-to-head series at 1-1.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Gaston kicked off Friday's action in Portugal by ending the dream run of local wild card Tiago Torres. The Frenchman repeatedly used his trademark drop shot to draw Torres forward before sealing a 6-3, 6-4 victory and advancing to his fourth ATP Tour semi-final, and first since 2024.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rublev saved all five break points he faced in the opening set, according to ATP Stats, but could not hold off Van Assche's relentless surge after the opener. The Frenchman raised his level as the match wore on, repeatedly coming out on top in extended forehand-to-forehand exchanges to level their ATP head-to-head series at 1-1.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Both Gaston and Torres are guaranteed significant rises in the ATP Rankings. Gaston has climbed 19 places to No. 90 in the Live Rankings with his run to the last four, while Torres \u2014 who made his tour-level debut this week \u2014 has soared 96 spots to No. 331.<\/p>\r\n\r\n