Carlos Alcaraz’s hat-trick at the Madrid Open was ended by Andrei Rublev on Wednesday.
Rublev earned the biggest victory of his career on clay, defeating Alcaraz 4-6 6-3 6-2 at Manolo Santana Stadium.
The seventh seed hit 30 winners and often got to the baseline to charge at the Spaniard, who finished below par after playing Jan-Leonard Straff in the fourth round.
Please use Chrome browser for a more convenient video player
Rublev wiped the ball away before Hawkeye’s ruling and was furious with the referee’s questioning process
Please use Chrome browser for a more convenient video player
Rublev says he was most impressed by his ability to stay calm during the win over Alcaraz
“I can’t believe I was able to stay calm throughout the whole match. I didn’t say a word and even I’m impressed,” 10-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist Rublev told sky sports tennis.
“I want to believe that I’ve been trying to do this because if I haven’t, I’d be stupid. Not improving on this after all these years means there’s something wrong with my mind. I just tell myself to keep trying. , keep fighting, keep believing in yourself.
“I just wanted to keep working hard and thought maybe I would have a few more break points and in the end, I was able to come back really well and break him. That gave me confidence and kept working hard and little by little I was able to do that. a little.
“The atmosphere is crazy and it’s great to play here.”
The 20-year-old has made a strong start with support from partisan domestic fans including former Spain international David Villa and Raul as well as Real Madrid star Luka Modric.
But an inferior Rublev broke in the second game of the second set to turn the momentum around and then dominated the rest of the way to set up a semifinal matchup with the United States. Taylor Fritz or argentinian Francisco Cerundolo.
Alcaraz missed the clay-court events in Monte Carlo and Barcelona with a right arm injury, hot on the heels of four-time champion Spaniard Rafael Nadal withdrawing from the tournament within 24 hours, disappointing home fans.
“Rublev achieved a stunning victory”
Please use Chrome browser for a more convenient video player
Colin Fleming believes Rublev’s tennis is untouchable, but sometimes he can be his own worst enemy
Former player Colin Fleming said: “I thought Carlos Alcaraz would be a step up, but to Rublev’s credit, he played full tennis.”
“I’m not sure everything is okay with Alcaraz, but I don’t want to take anything away from Rublev, it was an incredible win.
“It may take a game, a set or a shot to feel that way again. It’s easy to panic and think you’re not going to win the game, but at some point you can turn it around.
“Thanks to Rublev and his team for always believing and turning the situation around.”
“The biggest victory of Rublev’s career”
“A game like today, you have to give it to Rublev. I said from the beginning he has to have the best fight of his life. This is the biggest win of his career, especially in front of the crowd. All cheering for his opponent,” said Great Britain’s Billie Jean Gold Cup captain Anne Cosavon.
“I’d love to know how he got back into the area and managed to block out the noise.
“From the second set onwards he got better and better and I’m sure he’ll be very happy about it.
“Rublev’s head never dropped. He hit the ball well and read Alcaraz, which may not be the best for him but I’m sure he has his sights set on the French Open and hopefully he Can reach the peak.
tape story
Rybakina survives Putintseva scare to reach semi-finals
Please use Chrome browser for a more convenient video player
Highlights from the Madrid Open quarter-finals between Yulia Putintseva and Elena Rybakina
fourth seed Elena Rybakina In a match that lasted 2 hours and 48 minutes, the Chinese team fought back from a set down to defeat fellow Kazakhstan Yulia Putinsey 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 7-5. Baby (Yulia Putintseva).
Putintseva, ranked 50th in the world, looked set to cause an upset when she won the first set with a near-flawless performance in 45 minutes, but Rybakina recovered her composure after trailing 5-2 in the final. Saved two match points.
“It’s really tough. I know it’s not easy. I wish I had a better start… It’s not easy to always come back,” Rybakina said.
“At 2-5, I had shaken off the emotion and frustration and kept playing. The momentum changed. Yulia started getting angrier and some mistakes helped me. I just kept playing.
“I’m really happy.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more convenient video player
Putintseva breaks racket in frustration as she loses to Rybakina and gets booed from the sidelines
Rybakina’s next opponent is world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka or 17-year-old Russian star Mirra Andreeva, who will then face off.
Sinner withdraws due to hip injury
Jannik Sinner Withdrawing from the tournament with a right hip injury means he will not be available for Thursday’s quarter-final against Felix Auger-Aliassime.
The Australian Open champion released a statement on social media, which read: “It is with great regret that I have to withdraw from my next match in Madrid.
“My hip has been bothering me this week and has slowly become more painful. On the advice of the doctors we decided it was best not to continue playing to avoid making the situation worse.”
Canadian player Auger-Aliassime automatically entered the semifinals.
What’s coming to Sky Sports Tennis?
Please use Chrome browser for a more convenient video player
Discover all the ways to watch tennis on Sky Sports, including the US Open, ATP and WTA Tours
Ahead of the second Grand Slam of 2024 – the French Open at Roland Garros on May 26 – you can watch all of tennis’s biggest stars in action sky sports live When they play during the clay court season.
- Inter BNL d’Italia in Rome (ATP and WTA Masters 1000) – May 7-19
- Geneva Open (ATP 250) – May 20-26
- Lyon Open (ATP 250) – May 20-26
- Strasbourg International (WTA 500 w/Emma Raducanu) – May 20-2
- Morocco Open (WTA 250) – May 20-26
How to watch Sky Sports Tennis matches
Tennis stars appear daily on new Sky Sports Tennis channel
Sky Sports has confirmed a new home for tennis in the UK and Ireland. Sky Sports Tennis will be broadcast on Sky and NOW, providing fans with daily tennis content.
Sky Sports will broadcast more live tennis than anywhere else, bringing over 4,000 matches from over 80 events on the ATP and WTA Tours each year, as well as full live coverage of the US Open.
Non-Sky subscribers can live stream matches through NOW Sports Day and Sports Month membership, via sky sports tennis, sky sports arenaand sky sports portfolio channel.
For further access, fans can also follow their favorite players and gain deeper insights from both tours via sky sports newsthis sky sports App, on SkySports.com and via sky sports Social channels.
Advertising content | Live broadcast on Sky Sports now
Watch Sky Sports live now without a monthly or daytime membership contract. Instantly watch live broadcasts of Premier League, EFL, F1, England Cricket, Tennis and more.
Get Sky Sports on WhatsApp!
Now you can start receiving messages and alerts on the latest breaking sports news, analysis, in-depth features and videos from our dedicated WhatsApp channel!
Learn more here
Watch WTA and ATP Tour events throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Watch Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Monthly Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.
