Alexander Bublik survived a thriller to reach the Almaty Open semi-finals on Friday, beating Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5), according to Field Level Media reports. Bublik hammered 21 aces and finished with 49 winners in his first match of the tournament after advancing via a second-round walkover.
Khachanov secured the only service break of the match in the opening set, but Bublik responded by winning both ensuing tiebreakers. It was a match of fine margins, with both players serving superbly and neither giving an inch in the deciding sets.
Bublik will now face top-seeded Daniil Medvedev, who reached the semi-finals with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over France’s Terence Atmane. Medvedev did not face a break point and won 91 percent of his first-serve points, according to the report.
Tsitsipas Also Through In Almaty
Seventh-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas also advanced in straight sets, defeating Australia’s James Duckworth 6-3, 6-4. Tsitsipas fired 15 aces, did not face a break point and won 34 of 37 first-serve points, setting up a semi-final against qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili.
Basilashvili rolled past France’s Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-1, completing a strong day for the Georgian qualifier. The Almaty semi-finals promise high-quality tennis, with Bublik-Medvedev headlining the action.
Why Almaty Matters This Week
Late-season ATP events are crucial for rankings and confidence. Players chasing a strong finish to the year need wins, and Almaty offers valuable points. Bublik’s tiebreak nerve and Medvedev’s serving form suggest Saturday’s semi-final will be a classic.
For Khachanov, the defeat is cruel after winning the only break of the match. But tennis at this level is decided by tiebreaks, and on Friday, Bublik held his nerve when it mattered most.
