Rublev Outshines Fritz to Reach Madrid Open Final
In a gripping clay-court clash, Andrey Rublev, the 8th-ranked player, outmatched Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-3 to book his spot in the final of the prestigious Madrid Open on Friday. This triumph marked a remarkable turnaround for Rublev, who had been mired in a four-match losing streak prior to his arrival in the Spanish capital.
“It’s crazy,” Rublev mused, reflecting on the unpredictable nature of the sport. “One week can change everything. You have to remember that in tennis, you can’t perform at 100% all the time, so it’s normal to have ups and downs.”
The Russian dynamo will now face either Felix Auger-Aliassime or Jiri Lehecka in Sunday’s championship showdown, as he seeks his 16th career title and second of the season, having won in Hong Kong back in January.
Despite Fritz’s 5-3 head-to-head advantage over Rublev, it was the latter who seized control of the match, breaking the American’s serve from love in the final game of the opening set. Rublev maintained his momentum, showcasing his prowess with a 75% success rate on first serves compared to Fritz’s 55%.
“Mentally, I was feeling much better, and I was able to perform,” Rublev said. “Putting my emotions in the right direction has definitely helped me reach the final.”
Meanwhile, the men’s draw in Madrid has been marred by a string of high-profile withdrawals and injury concerns. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic pulled out before the tournament, while top-seeded Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev were both forced to retire during their respective quarterfinal matches. Even the heroic Carlos Alcaraz was hampered by a sore right arm before falling to Rublev in the quarters, and the legendary Rafael Nadal could only do so much before bowing out of what may have been his last appearance in his home country.
🔗 Source