Rublev crushes Skatov 6-1, 6-1 to reach Estoril Open quarterfinals
Synopsis
Rublev barely broke a sweat in Estoril — dropping just two games in 59 minutes to make it five wins in a row. With a first-time appearance at the Portuguese clay event and a Bastad title already banked, the world No. 14 looks ominous heading into a quarterfinal against a Van Assche side yet to win at this stage. Home hope Jaime Faria adds a local storyline to watch.
Key Takeaways
Andrey Rublev beat lucky loser Timofey Skatov 6-1, 6-1 in 59 minutes at the Estoril Open on 24 July .
Rublev has now won five consecutive matches and is into his seventh ATP Tour quarterfinal of the season.
The Russian's 26th winner of the match sealed victory off a Skatov second serve.
Frenchman Luca Van Assche defeated eighth seed Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 and will face Rublev in the quarterfinals.
Portugal's Jaime Faria beat qualifier Gonzalo Bueno 6-2, 6-4 and rose nine spots to No.
79 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.
Andrey Rublev delivered his most commanding performance of the season on Thursday, 24 July, dismantling lucky loser Timofey Skatov 6-1, 6-1 in just 59 minutes to advance to the quarterfinals of the Estoril Open in Portugal. The top seed dropped only two games across the entire match, capping the win with his 26th winner off a Skatov second serve.
Rublev's Form in Full Flow
The Russian, ranked No. 14 in the ATP Rankings, arrived in Estoril on the back of a title run in Bastad — his first clay-court crown of the year and 18th career title overall. That momentum carried seamlessly into the ATP 250 event, where the 28-year-old extended his winning streak to five consecutive matches. According to the ATP Win/Loss Index, this is his seventh tour-level quarterfinal of the season.
'I am happy to be here. It is my first time,' Rublev said after the match. 'The conditions are not easy to play in, but I feel great that I was able to win in straight sets, to be able to spend the least time on court and be as fresh as possible for tomorrow.'
Van Assche Awaits in the Last Eight
Rublev's next opponent will be Frenchman Luca Van Assche, who knocked out eighth seed Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 4-6, 6-2. The 22-year-old Van Assche holds a 0-3 record in ATP Tour quarterfinals but enters with confidence after winning an ATP Challenger title on clay in Parma earlier this season. Carreno Busta, who was chasing his first tour-level quarterfinal since Winston-Salem 2024, could not hold on in the deciding set.
Home Favourite Faria Delights Estoril Crowd
Portugal's own Jaime Faria gave the home faithful plenty to cheer about, defeating Peruvian qualifier Gonzalo Bueno 6-2, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals. The 22-year-old Faria, who climbed nine spots to No. 79 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, is into his second tour-level last-eight of the season — having previously reached the quarterfinals at the ATP 500 event in Rio de Janeiro. He will face either second seed Luciano Darderi or Pedro Martinez on Friday.
What to Watch on Friday
The Estoril quarterfinals set up a compelling day of action, with Rublev's clash against Van Assche headlining proceedings. A Faria run to the semis would mark a significant milestone for Portuguese tennis on home soil. With Rublev in ruthless form and Faria feeding off crowd energy, the tournament enters its most decisive phase.
Point of View
6-1 scoreline is not just a result — it is a statement of intent from a player who has quietly assembled one of the tour's most consistent clay seasons. Seven quarterfinals in a single year at his ranking level signals depth, not luck. The more intriguing subplot is Faria: a Portuguese player making the last eight on home clay at an ATP event is the kind of organic crowd moment that the tour's smaller events desperately need for commercial and broadcast relevance. Van Assche's 0-3 quarterfinal record, meanwhile, raises the question of whether his Challenger pedigree can translate when the stakes rise — a test Rublev is perfectly placed to administer.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Andrey Rublev's result at the Estoril Open on 24 July?
Rublev defeated lucky loser Timofey Skatov 6-1, 6-1 in 59 minutes to advance to the quarterfinals of the Estoril Open ATP 250 event in Portugal. It was his most comfortable win of the 2025 season, with the world No. 14 dropping just two games.
Who will Rublev face in the Estoril Open quarterfinals?
Rublev will play Frenchman Luca Van Assche, who beat eighth seed Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 4-6, 6-2. Van Assche has a 0-3 record in ATP Tour quarterfinals but won an ATP Challenger title on clay in Parma earlier this season.
How is Jaime Faria performing at the Estoril Open?
Portugal's Jaime Faria reached the quarterfinals by defeating Peruvian qualifier Gonzalo Bueno 6-2, 6-4, delighting home fans. It is his second tour-level quarterfinal of the season, following a run at the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro.
What is Rublev's current form heading into the Estoril quarterfinals?
Rublev has won five consecutive matches and is into his seventh ATP Tour quarterfinal of the season. He also claimed his 18th career title on clay in Bastad just before arriving in Estoril.
What is Jaime Faria's current ATP ranking?
Following his win over Gonzalo Bueno, Faria climbed nine places to No. 79 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. He will face either second seed Luciano Darderi or Pedro Martinez in the quarterfinals on Friday.
