Against Auger-Aliassime

Three-set victory! Andrei Rublev wins Madrid Open

Andrej Rublev won 4:6, 7:5 and 7:5 against Felix Auger-Aliassime.(Bild: AFP/APA/Thomas COEX)

Russia's Andrey Rublev won his second Masters 1000 tennis title on Sunday. As last year in Monte Carlo, he triumphed again on clay in Madrid. In the final, the number seven of the event defeated the unseeded Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 4:6,7:5,7:5 in his first Masters 1000 final. With Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Andy Murray, only four other active players have won more than one 1000 title on clay.

Rublev had not won a match since his opening victory in Indian Wells in the first half of March and was also close to withdrawing from the Madrid classic in the early stages due to illness. But then the 26-year-old started a run of victories, including a win against local favorite Carlos Alcaraz (No. 2). Rublev now holds 16 Tour titles. "This is the one I'm most proud of." In the world rankings, Rublev moves up two places to sixth and is now also among the favorites for the French Open.

Double fault leads to defeat
Auger-Aliassime ended the match and the tournament after 2:49 hours of play with a double fault, but the 23-year-old has made a nice leap up the rankings from 35th to 20th. The North American had benefited from three retirements or withdrawals by his opponents during the tournament, including against South Tyrolean Jannik Sinner (1).