Rublev Bests Auger-Aliassime, Adds Second Masters Title In Madrid
Andrey Rublev joined the ranks of a multi-Masters champion capturing the Madrid title Sunday downing Felix Auger-Aliassime in nail-biter 4-6, 7-5, 7-5.
The Russian entered the event in the midst of a dismal 4-match losing streak. His game was far from when he collected his first Masters last year in Monte Carlo. He was 35-1 at the start of the event to win the title. But in Spain, he caught fire again upsetting Carlos Alcaraz, cruising past Taylor Fritz and then rallying from a set down to beat the Canadian.
“I have no words. 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,” Rublev said to the ATP. “I’m incredibly happy. That one week changed everything because now it looks like I was not losing the last weeks in the first round.
“I would say this is the most proud title of my career,” he added. “I was almost dead every day. I was not sleeping at night. The last three, four days I didn’t sleep.”
Playing in his first Masters final, Auger-Aliassime had a quirky road benefitted from two retirements and a walkover. And today, he never got a break point after the first and a double fault facing match point will haunt him in his dreams.
“Even with the circumstances, there were some good moments where I showed a good level,” the 23-year-old Auger-Aliassime said. “Obviously it was a weird week with all the walkovers, but I’m going to head into next week with the same confidence I came in this week actually, this tournament, I felt like I could play well.
“Rome is the same thing. I feel like it’s a tournament where I have had good memories, as well, in the past. I’m going to try to just keep going, keep doing the things I’m doing well, not put too much pressure, expectations that I need to be perfect, and enjoy. Enjoy the days and learn from the downs, stay cool and take it easy.”
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