Alexander Bublik moved into the Rotterdam semifinals after a dramatic three-set victory over Jaume Munar, winning 6-4, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3) in a match that lasted two hours and 42 minutes. The triumph was the 200th tour-level win of Bublik’s career, the first time a man representing Kazakhstan in the Open Era has reached that mark.

The 28-year-old continued a rich run of form. He is 41-11 since the start of Roland Garros last year, a stretch that included his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at Roland Garros and a sequence of deep runs that has produced seven semifinals in the last eight months. That period also brought five titles in Halle, Gstaad, Kitzbuhel, Hangzhou and Hong Kong, plus his first Masters 1000 semifinal in Paris.

Bublik is also only the 14th man born in 1997 or later to record 200 career tour-level wins. On Friday he came close to closing Munar out in straight sets but was forced into a deciding set. It was his third three-setter of the week. Down an early break at 2-1 in the final set, Bublik immediately broke back, steadied on serve and carried his momentum into the final-set tiebreak. He opened the breaker 4-1 and held on to clinch the win.

“I’m really lucky at the end that I served unbelievably,” Bublik said afterwards. “I only served first serves in the tie-break, so I guess that was the key in the third set. But I’m really tired—I just need to find a way to recover for tomorrow’s match.”

Awaiting Bublik in the semifinals is world No. 6 Felix Auger-Aliassime, who defeated Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (2), 6-2 earlier in the day.

Carlos Alcaraz will not defend his title at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam after his breakthrough at the Australian Open. The tournament said Alcaraz “concluded that after his exertions over the past two weeks, he needs more time to return to action.”

Alcaraz beat Novak Djokovic in four sets to claim his seventh Grand Slam singles title and became the youngest man to complete the boxed set of career major victories. He is the reigning champion in Rotterdam after last year’s final victory over Alex de Minaur at the ATP 500 event. That win was the first of what became eight trophies for Alcaraz that season, his first career title on indoor hard courts and the first time a Spaniard won the tournament.

The ATP 500 field in Rotterdam is led by top 10 players Alexander Zverev, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Alex de Minaur. The event begins on Feb. 9. With Alcaraz withdrawing, the draw will proceed without its defending champion.

Following his Australian Open victory, Alcaraz participated in the traditional champion’s photo session, taking the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup for a tour around Melbourne on Monday. The shoot took place at the Royal Exhibition Building among gardens in the city center. Dressed in all-black, the world No. 1 reportedly wore loafers with no socks after playing nearly nine hours of tennis over the final two rounds and enjoying a post-victory celebration.

Australian media reports said Alcaraz celebrated with family in his hotel suite, ordering pizza, beer and champagne. In his victorious post-final press conference, he reflected on the demands of the tour and the need to appreciate the moment:

“I’m going to say tennis really beautiful, but what the bad part of tennis, it is we have tournaments week after week after week, and sometimes you don’t realize what you’ve been doing lately, because you know, once you finish tournament, you got to be prepared or your mind is about, you know, going to the next tournament,” he said.

“So sometimes you don’t stop yourself and think about what you’re doing. What I’ve learned this year is about appreciate and enjoy every single second of the moment you’re living. Not only lifting the trophies, but playing tournaments, playing tennis, getting victories, getting loses. Whatever it is, just enjoy and appreciate the life you’re living.”