Rublev returns to a Masters 1000 final with impressive victory over Fritz in Madrid
The Russian reached his fifth ATP Masters 1000 final with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Taylor Fritz at the Madrid Open
Andrey Rublev in the final of the 2024 Madrid Open © Zuma / Panoramic
Andrey Rublev has reached his fifth Masters 1000 final courtesy of an impressive victory over Taylor Fritz, beating the American 6-4, 6-3 in the semi-finals of the Madrid Open.
The Russian was in clinical form as he comfortably dispatched Fritz to deny the world No 13 a first clay-court Masters final.
The high-altitude conditions in the Spanish capital had benefitted Fritz’s big-serving game, but it was Rublev who looked most at ease inside Manolo Santana as his powerful attacking style overwhelmed the American’s defences.
The pair traded breaks in the opening two games of the match, before Rublev struck again from out of the blue in the tenth and final game of the opener to move into a one-set lead.
It was a strange lapse from Fritz, whose serve had looked solid up until that point, before he conceded the set after being broken to love.
If it was a case of nerves, they appeared to strike again in the sixth game of the second stanza, as Rublev broke for the third time in the match to gain a firm grip on the contest.
The American held well in the eighth game to force his opponent to serve for the victory, but Rublev was composed and level-headed throughout as he comfortably served out an excellent win.
mental clarity a key component for rublev in madrid
That more placid approach has clearly paid dividends for the world No 8 in Madrid this week, as he himself revealed in his on-court interview.
“Mentally I’ve been feeling much better,” Rublev said.
“I was able to perform putting emotions in the right direction. It helped me to be in the final. Without this, I wouldn’t be in the final.”
It will be Rublev’s fifth Masters 1000 final when he takes on either Felix Auger-Aliassime or Jiri Lehecka in on Sunday, and only his second on clay.
The Russian has lost three of the four Masters finals he has played, but his sole triumph did come on the clay courts of Monte-Carlo last season.
“I’m not looking at it this way,” Rublev continued, when asked whether he’d be the favourite in the final against a player who is outside the world’s top 30.
“Because I know Felix used to be top 10. He didn’t play for a while last year. He’s now playing better and better. We played at the start of the season. I saved I don’t know how many match points. He almost beat me.
“Previous matches he beat me as well. Then Lehecka beat me the last match we played at Indian Wells.
“He destroyed me in two sets without a chance. I never look at the ranking because I know the guys and how they play. To judge by the ranking in tennis doesn’t work.”
No doubt Sunday’s showpiece will be a tough affair for Rublev, whoever he faces. But after a torrid period prior that saw the Russian coming into the Madrid Open on a four-match losing streak, reaching the final in the Spanish capital is already a huge success.
Rublev will have a golden chance to turn that success into a greatly unexpected second Masters title in two days time, but it’ll take another strong performance like today’s to get over the line.
