WATCH the Qatar Open LIVE in Australia on beIN SPORTS | Subscribe here and take advantage of our 7-day FREE TRIAL

The No.5 seed was on court for almost three hours to move into his third championship match in Doha, but this is his first final on the ATP Tour since Montreal last August.

“[It took] everything. It was super tough today,” Rublev said after the win.

“I felt like there was not much I can do if he is serving [like that]. I just needed to be really lucky to break him… He was serving well and I was just saying, ‘OK, I cannot do much, this is one of the best servers on Tour. I just need to try to guess and when I have a moment, just go for it'.

"At 6-5 was the only match point I had, a good [opportunity], and I missed by a little bit. But it happened.”

Rublev will take on No.8 seed Jack Draper or Jiri Lehecka in the final, which is this year hosting an ATP 500 event for the first time.

“It feels amazing [to be in a third Doha final], but at the same time what can I do?” Rublev said.

“If it doesn’t happen, next week I have another tournament, another opportunity. I am happy that I am back in terms of my level.

"I think I am playing better and better week by week, so I’m improving. I will keep the main focus, even if I don’t win this final, just to keep improving.”