Andrey Rublev battled through illness to claim his inaugural Madrid Open title, defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime in a thrilling three-set final.
Struggling with a persistent fever throughout the week, Rublev showcased resilience to secure a hard-fought victory with a 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 win, clinching his second Masters 1000 title.
Acknowledging his health struggles, Rublev expressed gratitude towards the medical team for their efforts in enabling him to compete. “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 didn’t sleep.”
Reflecting on his triumph, the eighth-ranked Russian described it as the proudest moment of his career, highlighting the remarkable journey to victory despite his health setbacks.
Rublev’s path to the final included a notable victory over home-crowd favorite Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals. Prior to Madrid, he entered the tournament on a four-match losing streak, with disappointing exits at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, and Barcelona.
This victory marks Rublev’s 16th career title, adding to his success at Monte Carlo last year and his win at Hong Kong earlier this season. The Russian now holds a 5-1 record against Auger-Aliassime, including a victory on clay.
Auger-Aliassime’s journey to the final saw him benefit from the withdrawal of second-ranked Jannik Sinner due to injury in the quarterfinals, and a retirement by Jiri Lehecka in the semifinals.
Injuries also plagued the men’s draw in Madrid, with Novak Djokovic withdrawing before the tournament, Daniil Medvedev retiring in the quarterfinals, and Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal facing physical challenges during the competition.
In the women’s event, Iga Swiatek claimed her first Madrid Open title on Saturday, adding to the tournament’s compelling narrative of triumph over adversity.
