ANDREY RUBLEV overcame an opening set wobble to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6 7-5 7-5 in the final of the Madrid Open on Sunday to win his second Masters 1000 title.
Mr. Auger-Aliassime was chasing his first ever Masters title and looked well set for victory before a resurgent Mr. Rublev, who had been struggling with a fever during the tournament, recovered to prevail in a little under three hours.
The 26-year-old Russian had come into the tournament in Madrid in poor form having lost his previous four matches on the tour but dropped only two sets en route to the title.
Mr. Auger-Aliassime had moved into the final when three of his five opponents in Madrid gave him walkovers — including top seed Jannik Sinner who pulled out with an injury before their quarterfinal clash.
Questions about whether the unseeded Canadian deserved to be in the final were put to rest in the opening set when he clinically dismantled Mr. Rublev’s serve. — Reuters
