Andrey Rublev posted a 6-4, 6-3 win over Taylor Fritz on Friday to advance to the Mutua Madrid Open championship match.
The seventh-seeded Russian recorded five aces and won 82.6 percent of his first-serve points (38 of 46) to dispatch the 12th-seeded American in 73 minutes.
Rublev will bid for his 16th career ATP title and second of the year (Hong Kong) on Sunday when he squares off against Felix Auger-Aliassime.
The Canadian advanced to his maiden ATP Masters final after Czech 30th seed Jiri Lehecka bowed out due to an apparent back injury with their match tied at 3-3 in the first set. Auger-Aliassime punched his ticket to the semifinals via walkover after top-seeded Jannik Sinner withdrew from the tournament with a hip injury.
As for Rublev, he said his recent run of dominance in Madrid deals with a proper mindset.
“Mentally I was feeling much better and I was able to perform,” Rublev said. “Putting emotions in the right direction. For sure it has helped me to reach the final. Without this, I would not be in the final.”
Fritz started strong by breaking his opponent in the opening game before Rublev responded with a flourish.
“I started really tight. I missed a couple of returns, a couple of easy shots, but it is part of sport and part of tennis,” Rublev said. “When he broke me, I thought, ‘OK, it is only the beginning, we have a long set and we will see. Maybe he will also not start well on his serve.’
“In the end, I think in the first three points he didn’t hit a first serve, so I was able to win and it was 0/30. On one break point I played well, and somehow it was 1-1. Then the match was equal until the end of the set.”
Fritz remained competitive by firing seven aces and taking advantage of three double faults.
Auger-Aliassime should be rested for the final after his second straight foe bowed out. Lehecka clutched at his lower back during the sixth game and was able to return after receiving treatment from a physio, only to call it a day after three points.
“I feel really bad for him,” Auger-Aliassime said of Lehecka. “I’ve had injuries myself, and we can imagine how it feels to come out on a night like this, hoping to win to go through, having a battle with your opponent, and not being able to play. I have a lot of empathy for Jiri, and I can’t do anything but try to prepare for Sunday.”
Rublev owns a 4-1 record versus Auger-Aliassime in his career.
–Field Level Media
