Medvedev will meet Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili in the Almaty Open final on Sunday. Basilashvili defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3 earlier on Saturday. Medvedev defeated him 6-2, 6-2 in their only previous meeting in Vienna in 2022.
Within the first few minutes of the semi-final, it was clear that something was wrong. Bublik put effort into his serve, but was chasing almost nothing when Medvedev got a racket on the return. Medvedev won his second break point 2-1, dropped just three points in the set and closed it out at love. Bublik took the second-to-last point and retired at the end of the set.
The challenge for Medvedev was to stay focused against an opponent who was barely competing. He didn’t give anything away and has now won seven in a row since winning last year’s title in Almaty, defeating Corentin Moute 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in the final. Earlier this week, he defeated Japan’s Sho Shimabukuro 6-2, 6-1 and France’s Terence Atman 6-4, 6-4.
A chance to defend the title for the first time
Medvedev reached the final in his fourth tournament in four weeks after reaching the semi-finals in Shanghai. It is the 45th final of his career and fifth this season, and he is chasing a fourth title in 2026 after Brisbane, Dubai and Hangzhou. He leads the Tour with 36 victories in tough terrain this season and the run cements his position in sixth place in the Turin race. He now leads Bublik 7-1.
Bublik, seeded 19th, rallied from a set down to beat No. 5 Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) in the quarter-finals after the round went down on a walk-off when Hungary’s Fabian Marozan went down.
Almaty ATP 250, latest RESULTS
• Quarter finals
D. Medvedev (1) d. T. Atmane: 6-4, 6-4
A Bublik (3) d. K. Khachanov (5): 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(5)
d. of N. Basilashvili A. Mannarino: 6-3, 6-1
S. Tsitsipas (7) d. J. Duckworth: 6-3, 6-4
• Semi-final
D. Medvedev (1) vs A. Bublik (3): 6-3, back.
N. Basilashvili vs S. Tsitsipas (7): 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3.