ATP Vienna: Andrey Rublev moves a win away from passing Novak Djokovic

The 5th seed Andrey Rublev is through to his fifth ATP final of the season in Vienna, earning the 38th victory in 2020! An in-form Russian is 38-7 this year, winning the previous four finals and hoping for another success on Sunday, hoping to pass Novak Djokovic and becoming the first player with five titles in this crippled season. Andrey defeated Kevin Anderson 6-4, 4-1 in 65 minutes in the semis, with the South African retiring due to a right leg injury. Thus, Rublev is now 23-4 since the season restart, seeking the third straight ATP 500 title after Hamburg and St. Petersburg. Andrey lost ten games against Kevin at Roland Garros a few weeks ago, having the upper hand in this clash and securing the opening set with a late break at 5-4. Anderson struggled more and more and couldn't stay on the court for a couple of games more, retiring after the fifth game of the second set to propel the Russian through.

Andrey closed the opening game with an ace down the T line, followed by Kevin who hit a service winner in game two to get his name on the scoreboard. Dominating behind the initial shot, Rublev wrapped up the third game with a smash winner, securing the fifth game at love to remain in front. Kevin landed an ace to bring the sixth game home, standing powerless on the return again in game seven to push Andrey 4-3 in front. The South African blasted a forehand down the line winner in game eight to stay on the level terms before hitting a double fault at 4-5 to suffer a break and hand the opener to his opponent.

Andrey Rublev and Lorenzo Sonego will fight for the title in Vienna.

Rublev held in the first game of the second set with a service winner after two deuces, with a medical timeout for Anderson after the first point of the second game. Andrey broke him at 15 and confirmed the lead with a forehand winner in game three, holding at 15 at 4-1 before Anderson decided to call it a match and push the youngster into the final.

A lucky loser Lorenzo Sonego is enjoying a career-best week, demolishing world no. 1 Novak Djokovic in the quarters and beating Daniel Evans 6-3, 6-4 for the second ATP final. The Italian lost 11 points in ten service games, dominating with his initial shot and a forehand to get broken once, delivering three breaks to seal the deal in straight sets to move closer to the trophy. Barely losing a point on serve in the opening set, Lorenzo grabbed a break in game two and held at love at 5-3 to wrap up the first set. The rivals traded three breaks at the beginning of the second set, with Sonego scoring two and serving well in the remaining games to seal the deal in style and set Rublev clash. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3eeD2AZ