Luca Van Assche came from a set down to defeat Andrey Rublev 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the Estoril Open. The Frenchman turned the match around by tightening his serve and converting the crucial break points when it mattered most.
Rublev took the opening set with a single break at 4-2, but Van Assche responded emphatically in the second set, breaking at 1-3 before holding serve to level the match. In the decider, Van Assche broke again at 1-2 to take a 2-1 lead, and despite Rublev’s eight aces, the Russian never found a way back.
Van Assche saved 9 of 10 break points he faced (90%) across the match, while converting two of his own opportunities. Rublev’s four double faults and lower second‑serve points won (52% to 63%) proved costly in the tight final set.