ICobolli battled past clay-court specialist Tomás Martín Etcheverry on Friday in a grueling 2-hour, 48-minute match, winning 2–6, 7–5, 6–4. In the evening session, Rublev defeated Félix Auger-Aliassime. 

The first singles match of the day turned into a fierce battle from the opening rally, with both players clearly comfortable on the slow surface. Currently ranked No. 55, Etcheverry initially dominated the long rallies, pushing Cobolli deep into the corners. The Italian struggled at first to showcase his renowned return game. But the world No. 35 fought his way back into the match with remarkable tenacity, winning over the crowd with his fighting spirit on a chilly day at Rothenbaum. 

Feeding off the energy of the vocal crowd and his committed team, Cobolli started to build momentum, pumping his fist after key points. At 5–5 in the second set, he secured a crucial break and soon leveled the match by taking the set 7–5. 

The final set was a tense back-and-forth affair. Cobolli ultimately showed stronger nerves and made fewer unforced errors than his opponent. He wowed the crowd with several spectacular returns and fended off two early break points that would have left him trailing 1–2. Staying solid under pressure, he broke for 5–4 — the decisive moment. Minutes later, the match was over. 

“It was a tough battle and we both gave it everything,” Cobolli said afterward. “I was nervous at the start,” he admitted — though he overcame his nerves in impressive fashion. 

Rublev, however, showed no such signs of nervousness. The No. 3 seed controlled his semifinal against Auger-Aliassime from the outset with heavy groundstrokes and relentless pressure. He broke early and took the first set 6–1 with little resistance. 

Those expecting the Canadian to fade were proven wrong. In the second set, Auger-Aliassime held serve with more confidence and forced Rublev into several errors. But at a crucial moment, he missed a backhand return wide — handing Rublev the decisive break for a 5–4 lead. The 27-year-old Russian then converted his second match point after 1 hour and 25 minutes, reaching his third final at Rothenbaum after 2019 and 2020, the year he defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas to claim the title. 

“He’s a great guy, always funny — at least off the court,” Rublev said of his final opponent. “I like his playing style. It’s going to be a tough final — hopefully with the better outcome for me.” 

It will be their first-ever ATP Tour meeting. Fans at Rothenbaum can expect a high-energy clash between two intense competitors. 

Final Saturday will begin at 12:00 p.m. on Centre Court with the doubles final, featuring the third-seeded Italian pair Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori against Andres Molteni (ARG) and Fernando Romboli (BRA).