The pair had to put their close friendship off the court to one side as the battled for a place in the showpiece final.

Rublev had to dig himself out of big holes in both sets, down a saving a set point against him in the first before rallying to comeback from 0-2 in the second to claim the match.

“It’s not easy when you win matches against friends, because you feel both sides,” Rublev said after his win.

“You feel sad, but at the same time you want to win. It’s a mix of feelings.”

Rublev has now won all 10 sets he has played during his Shanghai run.

The final will be his fourth at this level.