“Rublo” Rublev beats the Demon to Australian Open quarter-final spot

UTS Frankfurt champion Andrey “Rublo” Rublev edged fellow UTS star Alex “The Demon” de Minaur in the fourth round of the Australian Open on Sunday.

It was a five-set thriller as the home favourite faced off against the two-time Melbourne quarter-finalist.

But as the clock ticked towards midnight on Rod Laver Arena, it was Rublo who got a decisive double-break at the start of the fifth, powering on to triumph 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-0.

The fifth seed will now play in his tenth Grand Slam quarter-final.

“Two days ago I said I hope we will show an amazing match that spectators will enjoy – now I regret about that!” joked Rublo on court afterwards after the gruelling late-night epic.

It won’t be long until the Australian has his chance for revenge, though, because the pair will meet again soon – they have both been drawn in Group B for UTS Oslo, which begins on February 9 at the Telenor Arena.