Andrey Rublev secured a hard-fought three-set victory over Hugo Gaston at the Hangzhou Open, surviving a turbulent match marked by missed set points, multiple failed attempts to rip his shirt, and a self-inflicted hand injury.
How Rublev Outlasted Gaston in Hangzhou
The second-seeded Russian advanced to the tournament’s last four after a grueling 2h54 battle that ended (6)6-7, 7-6(4), 6-1 against France’s Hugo Gaston. Rublev held a commanding 6-1 lead in the opening-set tie-break before dropping five set points, allowing Gaston to snatch the first frame. The collapse triggered a flash of frustration from Rublev, who twice tried to rip his playing shirt in half, only for the fabric to remain entirely intact.
The tension spilled over again in the second set. After building a comfortable 4-0 advantage, Rublev let his lead slip as Gaston clawed back to 5-5. Enraged by the shift in momentum, the recent Bastad tournament winner headed to the sideline for a towel and struck an advertising board with his fist.
The Bloody Hand Incident and Medical Interruption
The punch to the courtside panel caused his left hand to bleed significantly. Rublev sucked on his knuckles before tournament medical staff stepped in to treat the lacerations so the match could resume. Despite the self-inflicted injury and the lingering anger, Rublev cleaned up his game in the decisive third set, cruising through it 6-1 to seal the victory.
Semifinal Matchup at the Chinese Tournament
With the quarterfinal drama behind him, Rublev moves forward in the tournament. In the semifinal round at Hangzhou, he will face another French opponent, Kyrian Jacquet. Jacquet booked his spot in the final four by defeating Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan, the tournament’s sixth seed.
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