Andrey Rublev of Russia triumphed at the Madrid Open on Sunday, overcoming a suspected virus and a painful foot injury to secure the title against Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime with a score of 4-6, 7-5, 7-5. 🏆🎾
The 26-year-old battled through eight to nine days of illness and an inflamed foot that required an anesthetic to play the final match. \"I'm still sick and tomorrow I think I'll go back to the hospital for a full check-up to know exactly what's going on,\" Rublev shared during a news conference.
Despite entering the tournament in poor form with four consecutive losses, Rublev showed remarkable resilience. He eliminated second seed and home favorite Carlos Alcaraz and also defeated American Taylor Fritz to reach the final. \"I think it is normal to have ups and downs, but my focus now is to keep working and trying to improve,\" he stated.
Rublev's victory marks his second Masters 1000 title, achieved in just under three hours. Looking ahead, he emphasized the importance of recovery to prepare for the upcoming Rome tournament. \"Now I think the most important thing is to try and recover and be ready for Rome,\" he concluded.
