Andrey Rublev lets all the emotions out after erasing Davidovich Fokina's five match points in stunning Dubai turnaround 

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina was primed to put an end to a 0-9 hard-court record against Top 10 opponents at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Wednesday when he raced out to lead a second-set tiebreak, 6-1. Defending champion Andrey Rublev had other ideas, instead digging out of a massive hole to extend his title defense another round in a wild 1-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3) victory.

“It happened already. Third match this season,” referenced Rublev in his on-court interview about coming back from multiple match points down in 2023.

“The beginning wasn’t good. I get frustrated. He started really well, he was hitting really hard. I had not many options. Then little by little, I started to play, started to fight, star to be positive. I make this crazy tiebreak comeback from 6-1 that I’ve never done in my life before.”

At the Australian Open, Rublev erased two match points to topple Holger Rune in a dramatic five-setter and last week in Doha, the 25-year-old staved off three match points against Tallon Griekspoor.

Davidovich Fokina dominated the first set as the more imposing player, finding 11 winners and making 21 of 24 returns. Neither player created a break point chance in the second set en route to the tie-break. As quickly as the Spaniard put match on his racquet, it disappeared just as fast. Here’s how Rublev stormed back to save five match points:

• 1-6: Rublev fired an unreturnable serve out wide
• 2-6: Rublev found another good first delivery on the T side that Davidovich Fokina stabbed wide
• 3-6: Davidovich Fokina netted a backhand on the seventh shot of a rally
• 4-6: Rublev made a deep, looping forehand first-serve return that Davidovich pushed long on his backhand reply
• 5-6: A classic serve +1 forehand combination from Rublev brought him level
• 6-6: A first serve up the T pays off again for Rublev, as Foki's response failed to land in the court
• 7-6: Davidovich Fokina clips the tape on his second serve and it lands out

There was no shortage of passion after the set-ending double fault. As Rublev roared emphatically, Davidovich Fokina exploded in anger, smashing his racquet three times until it flew away.

“All the second set, I was super tight. I was holding everything inside of me,” said Rublev. “I think in the second set, I didn’t’ say not even once ‘let’s go’ or ‘come on’ to myself. I was completely calm. When I won the second set, all the emotions went out.”

Both players held in every service game for a second successive set, but this time, it was Rublev who built the 6-1 advantage in a winner-take-all tiebreaker. He closed on his third match point, winning a difficult point by nailing a backhand up the line to foil his opponent’s net rush.

The two were facing off for the first time since the second round of 2020 Roland Garros, when the Russian won in four sets.