Andrey Rublev overcame the virus to defeat Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6 7-5 7-5 at the Mutua Madrid Open. Aliassim, winning his second Masters 1000 title.
The 26-year-old, who won the title in Monte Carlo in 2023, arrives in the Spanish capital after ending a four-game losing streak.
However, the seventh seed played close to his best, reaching the final and then battling it out in the title match to claim his biggest win of the year in 2 hours and 47 minutes.
“I have nothing to say. If you knew what I went through in the last nine days, you would never imagine that I could win the championship.” During the game, he had a fever from time to time. “I’m very happy. That week changed everything because now it seems like I didn’t lose in the last weeks of the first round!
“I had to give the doctors full credit. They did some tough things and I was at least able to compete.”
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Even at the Madrid Open, the crowd had time to appreciate Neil Diamond…
Rublev defeated second seed Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals and then defeated Taylor Fritz to reach the final, where he was broken on two double faults in the first game of the tournament, The Russian was quickly broken.
The seventh seed fought back and managed to break Auger-Aliassime’s serve, but the Canadian was already well in control of the match by then, making good use of his powerful forehand on serve before finishing at the net with a loud shot The winning goal sealed the first set.
But Rublev, who eliminated second-seeded and home favorite Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals, was more aggressive on his serve in the second set.
The Russian also found his range on his first serve and kept Auger-Aliassime on the back foot before earning the decisive break to force a decider at 6-5.
It was also a familiar situation in the deciding set, as the serve continued until Rublev broke again at 6-5.
Auger-Aliassime was under pressure to hold serve for the match, but he double-faulted twice, the second of which handed the title to Rublev in a dull final.
“I would say this is the title I am most proud of in my career,” Rublev said. “I’m dying every day. I can’t sleep at night. I haven’t slept for the last three or four days.”
tape story
“Samadhi, now I am free”
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