Andrey Rublev defeated Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-3 on Friday to secure a spot in the Madrid Open final where he will face Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Auger-Aliassime advanced after Jiri Lehecka was forced to retire at 3-3 in the first set of their semifinal match, adding to the list of players injured during the event.
The men’s final for the clay-court tournament is scheduled for Sunday.
Rublev, ranked eighth, arrived in Madrid on a four-game losing streak following early exits in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, and Barcelona. However, he has now won four consecutive matches in Spain’s capital, including a victory over two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.
“It’s incredible,” Rublev commented. “That’s the beauty of sports, of tennis. A single week can change everything, you always have to keep that in mind … because maintaining peak performance all the time is not possible, so fluctuations are normal.”
Rublev aims for his 16th career title and his second of the season after claiming victory in Hong Kong in January. He holds a 5-1 record against Auger-Aliassime, including a win in their only clay-court encounter.
Lehecka, visibly emotional, ended the match due to an apparent back injury, expressing his frustration by smashing his racket on the ground. Auger-Aliassime offered his support by hugging him at the net, showing solidarity for the 31st-ranked Czech who defeated Rafael Nadal earlier in the tournament.
