Russia's World No. 8 Andrey Rublev continued his fine form on Friday as he registered a 7-6 (5), 6-2 win over defending champion Dominic Thiem at the Erste Bank  Open here. Rublev is trying to win his third straight title after winning the Hamburg European Open and the St Petersburg Open. Rublev entered his fifth semi-final of the year. Rublev will face Kevin Anderson, who beat Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), for a place in the final.

Rublev, 23, is tied at 1-1 in his head-to-head against the 2018 champion. Rublev's most recent clash against the South African was at Roland Garros earlier this month.