Rublev to take on Monfils in Qatar ExxonMobil Open final

Doha: On a night renowned coach Nick Bollettieri lavished praise on Andrey Rublev, terming him an excellent prospect and one for the future, the 20-year old Russian went on to beat Argentinian Guido Pella 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2) to enter the Qatar ExxonMobil Open final.

He will take on Gael Monfils in Saturday's final at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex after top-seed Dominic Thiem, the Frenchman's semifinal opponent, pulled out of the match owing to illness.

Rublev was severely tested by 27-year old Pella on Friday and the World No 39 had to display his steely character along with his array of shots as he survived a match point to take the third set into the tie-break and win it. 

While he was toiling against his left-handed opponent, Bollettieri was singing his praise.

"He's excellent. He's got a future, there is no question about it. There are six or eight youngsters coming up who are extremely good," said Bollettieri, who was in Doha to work with the coaches and help them develop young players in Qatar.

Rublev made his intentions clear right at the start, breaking Pella in the very first game of the match and though he himself started with an error-strewn service game, he managed to hold on.

Rublev broke Pella's serve twice more in the set and despite being broken once, he won it 6-2 and was threatening to run away with the match.

Pella, however, was a different player in the second set and broke Rublev to take a 4-2 lead. Though the World No 39 broke back soon to make it all square, he could not stop the 27-year-old taking the set 6-4.

The third set was a tight affair with both players trading shot for shot. Serving at 4-5, Rublev was suddenly in trouble as he faced a match point. But two forehand winners, one inside out and another a conventional crosscourt shot helped him bail himself out of the tight corner.

Rublev took the set to a tiebreak where he further displayed his shots to win it 7-2 and for a place in Saturday's final.

It will be the first time, since the 2004 final between Nicolas Escude and Ivan Ljubicic, that two unseeded players will play in the title clash.