Arthur Fils and Andrey Rublev both staged impressive comebacks from a set down to secure their places in the Barcelona Open final, setting up a championship showdown on Sunday.
Russian star Andrey Rublev battled past Serbia's Hamad Medjedovic 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 to reach his first final of the season and the 29th of his professional career. The victory was particularly meaningful for Rublev, who had suffered defeats in his previous four semi-final appearances.
"A title is always something different. You can win a lot of matches during a year and still not win a title," said Rublev, who will be seeking his first championship since defeating Britain's Jack Draper in the Qatar Open final back in February 2025.
On the other side of the draw, French rising star Arthur Fils overcame Spanish opponent Rafael Jodar 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Jodar had previously eliminated Britain's Cameron Norrie in the quarter-finals, making Fils' victory even more impressive.
Fils, who earned his 100th career ATP Tour win with the semi-final triumph, acknowledged the challenge of facing Jodar's powerful game.
"On the TV I don't think you can see how hard he is hitting," Fils commented after the match. "It took me one set to get used to his quality, and then after I felt better and I finished very strong."
Looking ahead to the final against Rublev, Fils recognized the difficulty of the task ahead.
"Rublo is a great champion. We had some big battles in the past, so it's not going to be easy," said the Frenchman, referencing their previous encounters.
The championship match is scheduled to begin at 15:00 BST on Sunday, with both players seeking to claim the Barcelona Open title after their hard-fought paths to the final.