Luca Van Assche secured a spot in the Estoril Open ATP Tour 250 semifinals by defeating top seed Andrey Rublev in a thrilling match. Despite Rublev’s recent winning streak, Van Assche staged a remarkable comeback, winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a two-hour, 15-minute battle.
The 22-year-old French player, ranked 78th in the ATP Rankings, expressed his joy at achieving the biggest win of his career. Van Assche, advancing to his first ATP Tour semifinal, will now face compatriot Hugo Gaston at the clay-court event.
Van Assche praised his performance, stating, “It’s the best win of my career so far. It means a lot to me. I love Portugal and to be in the semifinals is a great step in my career.” Rublev, who had a strong start, couldn’t maintain his momentum against Van Assche’s determined play, leveling their head-to-head series at 1-1.
Hugo Gaston also advanced to the semifinals by defeating local wild card Tiago Torres. Gaston’s effective use of the drop shot helped him secure a 6-3, 6-4 victory, marking his fourth ATP Tour semifinal appearance and his first since 2024.
