Andrey Rublev achieves career first with Qatar Open title win over Jack Draper

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Andrey Rublev was in desperate need of a strong week having struggled so far in 2025.

The world number ten had won just four matches on the ATP Tour this year ahead of his impressive week in Doha.

Rublev was shocked by Joao Fonseca in the first round of the Australian Open, 6-7, 3-6, 6-7, marking his worst performance in Melbourne in six years.

The Russian star then suffered defeats at the hands of Aleksandar Kovacevic and Hubert Hurkacz in Montpellier and at the Rotterdam Open.

In need of a big performance, Rublev headed to Doha for the Qatar Open, a tournament where he was victorious back in 2020.

Having beaten Alexander Bublik, Nuno Borges, Alex de Minaur, and Felix Auger-Aliassime, Rublev prepared for a tough test against the British number one in the final.

Andrey Rublev wins his first repeat title after beating Jack Draper in Doha

Rublev beat world number 16 Jack Draper in three sets, 7-5, 5-7, 6-1, to win a repeat title for the first time in his career.

The Russians’ previous 16 ATP titles had all come at different events, as he broke new ground with his second Qatar triumph.

Speaking after the match, the 27-year-old was delighted to have picked up his second Qatar Open title.

“It feels amazing, it’s the first time I’ve won the same title twice,” he said.

“I’m really happy, I don’t know what else to say.”

Having lost the final, Draper took the time to congratulate Rublev on his big win.

“I want to congratulate Andrey [Rublev], he was too good today, outlasted me,” he said.

“We played some really tough matches this week, in the third set he was a bit too strong for me.

“Congrats to you, I wish you have a great rest of the season.

“You deserve it, all the best.

“Congrats to his team and everyone back home who supports him as well, just a great player.”

Boris Becker reacts as Andrey Rublev and Mirra Andreeva win titles

Rublev wasn’t the only Russian star to lift a trophy on Saturday, as Mirra Andreeva beat Clara Tauson to win the Dubai WTA 1000 title.

Taking to X, former world number one Boris Becker reacted to Rublev and Andreeva’s victories.

“A good day for Mirra [Andreeva] and Andrey [Rublev],” he said.

Andreeva was pleased with her performance at the Dubai Tennis Championships, as she revealed after the match that she had already completed one of her big 2025 goals with the win.

“This is incredible, I set a goal for myself to be in the top ten by the end of the year,” she said.

“It’s just February and I’ve made it, this is something incredible for me.”

The 17-year-old will make her top-ten debut on Monday, as she reaches a career-high of number nine in the world.

Andreeva will now switch her attention to the Indian Wells tournament in California, which begins on March 3, while Rublev heads to the UAE for the Dubai Tennis Championships, which begin on Monday, February 24.