World no. 77 Quentin Halys made an impressive start at the ATP 500 in Dubai. The Frenchman defeated world no. 9 Andrey Rublev 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 in two hours and 12 minutes for a career-best victory.
Halys suffered a tight loss in the first round in Doha last week. He kept his composure against Rublev and notched his first top-10 victory. Quentin also celebrated his first ATP 500 victory after falling in the first round in the previous seven events at this level.
The lower-ranked player survived a massive scare at 5-5 in the decider. He denied six break points and prevailed in a tie break to book a place in the second round.
BIGGEST WIN OF HIS CAREER 🙌
Halys takes out Doha champion Rublev 3-6 6-4 7-6 to move through in Dubai!#DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/R8YpKwWme3
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 25, 2025
The Russian claimed one point more than his rival, but not the pivotal ones. They served under 60% and stayed neck and neck behind the first and second serve. Halys denied ten of 12 break points and grabbed two return games from six opportunities.
Quentin landed 40 winners and 42 unforced errors. The Frenchman blasted 40 service winners and left his rival on 24. Rublev erased the deficit from the baseline and at the net. World no. 9 embraced a 33-25 ratio, playing well but missing a chance to bring the win home.
Andrey Rublev & Quentin Halys, Dubai 2025© Stream screenshot
They denied five break points in games two and three, avoiding an early setback. Halys missed a backhand in the eighth game and faced two break points. He played a wild forehand on the second, losing serve and propelling Rublev 5-3 up.
The Russian served for the set in game nine and held at love for 6-3 in 31 minutes. World no. 77 produced two fine holds at the beginning of the second set and landed a forehand down the line winner in the next one for three break points.
Quentin Halys, Dubai 2025© Stream screenshot
He painted a forehand crosscourt winner on the second and forged a 3-1 advantage. The Frenchman hit a double fault in the fifth game, losing serve and the advantage. Quentin faced another break point at 3-3 and denied it with an ace.
World no. 77 landed another powerful serve at 4-4 and sent the pressure to the other side. Halys fired a forehand winner in game ten and generated a set point. He punched another, taking the set 6-4 and forcing a decider after an hour and ten minutes.
They served well in the opening ten games of the final set, offering the returners no deuces or break chances. Rublev made the ultimate push on the return in game 11 and created six break chances. The Frenchman saved five with winners, and the Russian missed a routine forehand on another.
Quentin Halys, Dubai 2025© Stream screenshot
Quentin held and gained a boost ahead of the tie break. He attacked on the return at 1-1 and moved in front. World no. 77 landed two winners for 4-1 and drew two mistakes from his rival for 6-3 and three match points.
Rublev saved two on serve before Halys converted the third at 6-5 with a forehand winner, sealing the deal in style and celebrating his career-best triumph.
Tennis World USA