World no. 10 Andrey Rublev claimed his 17th ATP title at the ATP 500 tournament in Doha. The Russian defeated world no. 16 Jack Draper 7-5, 5-7, 6-1 in two hours and four minutes, lifting his first trophy since last year's Madrid Masters.
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Andrey struggled to control his temper and display his best tennis in most of 2024. However, this title in the early stages of the season will gave him a massive boost ahead of the upcoming Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami.
Jack recovered from the Australian Open setback, regaining energy and fighting strong in Doha. The Briton prevailed over Matteo Berrettini and Jiri Lehecka en route to the final. He gave everything while chasing his second ATP 500 crown, taking the second set but fading from the court in the decider.
Andrey took 17 points more than Jack. The better-ranked player delivered more efficient numbers behind the first and second serve. He faced three break points and gave serve away once in the closing stages of the second set.
Draper could not follow that pace. The young gun faced seven break points and suffered one break, serving well in sets one and two before losing ground in the decider. Rublev tamed his strokes nicely and hit 34 winners and 30 unforced errors.
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Jack responded with 27 winners and 35 mistakes, spraying too many loose shots from his forehand. The returners stood no chance in the first 11 games. The Russian cracked a backhand down the line winner for 5-4.
A left-hander responded with a backhand winner and an ace in the next one for 5-5. Draper hit a costly double fault in the 12th game and experienced three set points. Andrey painted a forehand down the line winner on the third, taking the opener 7-5 in 40 minutes.
Rublev denied a break point in the first game of the second and generated two opportunities on the return in the next one. Jack saved them with service winners and held to remain in contention. The next ten games offered no chances for the returners.
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The Briton closed the tenth game with a drop shot winner for 5-5 and made a push on the return in the next one. Andrey played a loose forehand and faced two break points. The Russian netted a routine forehand on the first, losing serve at 15 and smashing his racquet.
A left-hander served for the set at 6-5 and fired a service winner, forcing a decider after an hour and 36 minutes. Rublev made a fresh start in the final set and barely dropped a point on serve. Draper could not follow that pace.
He wasted game points at 0-1 and experienced a break after the rival's backhand crosscourt return winner. Andrey fired an ace in the third game and cemented the lead. Jack suffered another break in the fourth game, falling 4-0 behind and closer to the exit door.
Rublev grabbed the fifth game with a lucky net cord forehand winner and served for the title at 5-1. The Russian held at love with an ace, moving over the top in style and celebrating his 17th ATP title.
