Montpellier Open: Rublev advances into last 4 via Basilashvili retirement

Russian Andrey Rublev, the top seed, moved into the semi-finals of the Montpellier Open when Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili retired at the Sud de France Arena on Friday evening.

Rublev, ranked No 10, led 5-2 when Basilashvili, ranked No 178, pulled out at the Sud de France Arena on Friday evening.

The match got off to a slow start for the Georgian, getting broken in his first service game, and was once again broken at 4-2. In the second half of the set, his discomfort was clear – lacking his usual explosive, yet precise, shots – and the set advantage for Rublev was too much for Basilashvili to recover from.

After the retirement, the Russian said:

“I didn’t know anything, the first two games were tight and I was lucky to break him and I think that gives me a bit of confidence and then he maybe went a bit more down (in level), and then – when he felt worse – I was already a break up which helped me, and decided it isn’t worth it. It’s not easy when those things happen.

“We have played many good matches, he has won some, I have won some of them as well. He’s a really great player and is a really nice person. I hope it’s nothing serious and I hope he will recover very fast for next week”

We have played many good matches, he has won some, I have won some of them as well. He’s a really great player and is a really nice person

Rublev also commented about playing in front of the French crowd and a potential victory on Sunday – should he make the final:

“I would love to (win), every player that is playing here wants to win the title. Everyone is motivated, everyone wants to win, all of us are playing good tennis – we will see what will happen.”

The Russian will play the winner of the match between Kazakh Alexander Bublik, the No 4 seed, and American qualifier Aleksandar Kovacevic next.

Andrey Rublev won against American Christopher Eubanks (6-4, 6-3) ahead of his victory.

Earlier in the tournament, the Georgian benefited from the abandonment of Kazakh Mikhail Kukushkin (6-3, 3-6, 5-0) and defeated Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, the No 7 seed (6-0, 7-6 (4)).

Montpellier ATP 250, other quarter-finals results (Sud de France Arena, hard, EUR 673.360, most recent results first):

• Alexander Bublik vs. Aleksandar Kovacevic
• Jesper De Jong beat Tallon Griekspoor (5): 7-6 (5), 6-4
• Felix Auger-Aliassime (2) beat Yunchaokete Bu (8): 6-3, 6-4