Andrey Rublev enters Novak Djokovic–Roger Federer territory with latest achievement

Andrey Rublev has carved out a rare slice of history at the Dubai Tennis Championships, placing himself alongside Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer with his latest milestone at the ATP 500 event.

The fifth seed powered past France’s Arthur Rinderknech 6-2, 6-4 to secure his place in the semifinals, continuing his pursuit of an 18th career ATP title. In doing so, the 28-year-old achieved a feat only Djokovic and Federer had previously managed in Dubai.

A landmark fifth semifinal in Dubai

Rublev’s return to the final four marks the fifth time in his career that he has reached at least the semifinals at the Dubai Tennis Championships. That consistency elevates him into elite company.

He is now just the third player in tournament history to reach five or more semifinals in Dubai. Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are the only other two names on that exclusive list.

The Serbian great advanced to the semifinals 10 times during his career, while Federer holds the record with 11 appearances in the final four.

For Andrey Rublev, the milestone underscores his sustained excellence at the hard-court event, where he has repeatedly thrived against top-tier competition.

Rekindling title ambitions

Rublev is no stranger to success in the Middle East. He lifted the Dubai trophy in 2022 and has consistently made deep runs at the tournament between 2021 and 2024, reaching at least the semifinals in each of those campaigns. That streak was halted last year with a first-round exit, making this season’s resurgence particularly significant.

By returning to the penultimate stage, Rublev has reasserted his status as one of the most reliable performers at the event.

Following in iconic footsteps

Dubai has long been associated with historic achievements. Federer famously captured his 100th career title at the tournament in 2019, becoming just the second man in history to reach a century of tour-level titles after Jimmy Connors.

Now, Andrey Rublev’s name is etched into the same statistical conversation as Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic — two of the sport’s most decorated champions.

While the Russian still has work to do to match their trophy hauls, his latest accomplishment signals both longevity and pedigree. As he chases a second Dubai crown and an 18th ATP title overall, Rublev’s consistency in the desert has firmly placed him in rarefied territory.