Zverev misses the final in Dubai

End of the line semifinals! But that’s as far as it goes for Alexander Zverev in Dubai. The form curve of the Olympic champion is pointing upwards again.

Alexander Zverev congratulated his buddy Andrej Rublew with a big hug and then, disappointed, trudged from the Center Court in Dubai to great applause.

The Olympic champion missed his first final after his serious injury. The 25-year-old lost to the defending champion from Russia 3: 6, 6: 7 (9:11) on Friday and was unable to take the chance to reach the 31st final of his career.

Nevertheless, Zverev can point to visible progress.

“He played really well. It was a super intense tie-break and I was expecting to go into the third set,” said Rublev after a top-class match, especially in the second set. Both players have known each other for many years. “He was always like a big brother to me,” Rublev said.

This time it wasn’t enough for Zverev, who lost to Rublev for the first time in the professional field after a previously perfect record with 5-0 wins and 11-0 sets.

The sixth in the world rankings will now meet world number one Novak Djokovic or his compatriot Daniil Medvedev, the US Open champion of 2021, in the final on Saturday.

Zverev’s self-confidence had grown noticeably over the course of the tournament. “After such an injury, I’m happy where I’m at now,” he said after winning several matches in a row for the first time since the momentous misstep at the French Open 2022: “I’m slowly coming back and playing sensible stuff this week Tennis.”

Zverev made too many avoidable mistakes against Rublew, especially in the first set, and had problems after his second serve.

He improved in the second round and fought to equalize the set in a long tie-break. Zverev fended off five match balls with courageous tennis, but was no longer able to secure his chance of winning his 20th title.