Former two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova says it is "a pity" that Andrey Rublev failed to capitalize on his opportunities and at least send the Carlos Alcaraz match into a third set.
Rublev, who was the defending champion in Doha this year after lifting his second Qatar Open title in 2025, saw his title defense end in the semifinal after No. 1 seed Alcaraz handed him a 7-6 (3) 6-4 loss in just over two hours of play.
Alcaraz struggled to close out the first set as he failed to serve out the opener at 5-4 and then 6-5. after failing to realize a set point. While Rublev did well to twice get himself back into the first set, the Russian failed to build on his momentum in the tie-break as the Spaniard opened a comfortable 5-2 tie-break lead before converting his second set point.
Something a bit similar happened in the second set when Rublev stunningly saved three match points to break back Alcaraz at 5-3. But just after getting the break back, the 2025 Doha champion missed out on a game point in the 10th game as the top seed clinched the key break to seal the win.
Kuznetsova, a former world No. 2, thought Alcaraz didn't have a best day at the office and lamented Rublev not taking advantage of it.
Kuznetsova: A pity that Rublev wasn't able to put more pressure on Alcaraz and at least force a third set
“It’s a pity that Andrey wasn’t able to put more pressure on Carlos and at least take the match to a third set: in both the first and the second sets, there were chances. And that, by the way, doesn’t happen very often in matches against Alcaraz in general. You have to make use of even the slightest opportunity he gives you," Kuznetsova said, via Russian publication Championat.
"The Spaniard twice failed to serve out the first set, then failed to serve out the match, but still finished it on return – 7-6 (3) 6-4. Carlos is into the final, and Andrey was unable to defend his title in Doha."
Rublev has now lost his last four matches against Alcaraz.
