Rublev overcomes fever and praises doctors after winning Madrid Open for the 1st time
MADRID: Despite sleepless nights struggling with a fever, Andrey Rublev found a way to fight back and win the Madrid Open for the first time. Rublev was feeling sick all week but rallied to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in three sets on Sunday and clinch his second Masters 1000 title. Rublev won 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 after Auger-Aliassime double-faulted on the last point of the final at the clay-court tournament in the Spanish capital. I would say this is the most proud title of my career, Rublev said. I was almost dead every day. I was not sleeping at night. The last three, four days I didnt sleep. Rublev gave full credit to the doctors, who were doing some tricky things just to make sure he could play. I have no words, the eighth-ranked Rublev said. If you knew what I had been through in the past nine days you would not imagine that I would be able to win a title. The 26-year-old Russian won his first Masters 1000 title at Monte Carlo last year. Auger-Aliassime was playing in his first final at this level. Rublev entered Madrid on a four-match losing streak after early exits at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Barcelona. One of his victories in Madrid came in the quarterfinals against home-crowd favorite Carlos Alcaraz. He now has 16 career titles, and two this season after Hong Kong in January. He had arrived with a 5-1 record against Auger-Aliassime, including a win in their sole matchup on clay. Auger-Aliassime's path to the final saw second-ranked Jannik Sinner withdraw because of an injury ahead of the quarterfinals, and Jiri Lehecka retired against the Canadian in the first set of the semifinals. Other injuries hit the men's draw in Madrid, starting with Novak Djokovic's withdrawal before the tournament. Daniil Medvedev retired in the quarterfinals, while Alcaraz was hampered by a sore right arm and Rafael Nadal bowed out of what was likely his last appearance in his home country. Iga Swiatek won the women's title for the first time in her career on Saturday.
Iga Swiatek saves 3 match points to beat Sabalenka in Madrid Open final
MADRID: Iga Swiatek avenged her loss in last year's final to Aryna Sabalenka and won the Madrid Open on Saturday after a third-set tiebreaker. The top-ranked Swiatek beat No. 2 Sabalenka 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7) for her third title of the season. The 22-year-old Polish player became the youngest player to reach 20 titles since Caroline Wozniacki in 2012. Swiatek faced two match points when she was struggling with her serve at 5-6 in the third set. But she held on to force the tiebreaker, where she saved a third match point. Swiatek collapsed on the red clay after Sabalenka hit long to end a match that lasted 3 hours, 11 minutes, the longest WTA final so far in 2024. Each player broke serve five times. Who is going to say that womens tennis is boring now? Swiatek said. Congrats as well to Aryna because we both had an amazing effort today. Swiatek will seek her fourth French Open title later this month as the two-time defending champion at Roland Garros. Champion Aryna Sabalenka sets up Swiatek rematch in Madrid Open final Swiatek improved her head-to-head record with Sabalenka to 7-3. She has won her last seven finals, since her loss to Sabalenka here in 2023. Sabalenka got the better of Swiatek last year at Madrid in three sets for the first win over her rival on clay. The two-time Australian Open champion was seeking a record-tying third title in Madrid. I had my opportunities, Sabalenka said. I wouldnt say that I kind of missed them or lost them. It was just incredible play from her, and I think thats the lesson I have to learn. Madrid was the only European clay-court tournament at the WTA 500 level or above that Swiatek had yet to win. Now her collection is complete. On Sunday, Andrey Rublev plays Felix Auger-Aliassime in the men's final.
