Former champions Andrey Rublev triumphed in a battle of former winners when the Russian star defeated Ugo Humbert 6-4 6-7 (5/7) 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Wednesday.
The 2022 champion, Rublev dealt with a spirited showing from the 2024 Dubai winner to continue his good form having reached the semifinals at the Qatar Open last week.
Earlier, Canada’s top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime recovered from a shaky beginning to beat French qualifier Giovanni Mpetshi in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.
Auger-Aliassime advanced to the quarters after rallying from down 1-4 in the first set against his fellow heavy-serving Frenchman.
Auger-Aliassime next meets the Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka who defeated Spain’s Pablo Carreño Busta 7-6 (8/6) 6-4 in the last eight.
But second-seeded Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan suffered a 6-3 7-6 (7/4) defeat to the Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor.
Griekspoor’s reward is a last eight meeting with sixth seeded Czech Jakub Menšík.
The 20-year-old Czech newcomer beat Alexei Popyrin of Australia 6-3 6-2.
Last up of the evening, British fourth seed Jack Draper was defeated by Arthur Rinderknech of France.
The Frenchman triumphed in a gripping three-set tussle 7-5 6-7 (4/7) 6-4 to meet Rublev in the last eight.