Felix Auger-Aliassime is poised to compete in his first Masters 1000 final at the Madrid Open after a series of unexpected advancements. The Canadian world No. 35 will face Russia’s Andrey Rublev in a highly anticipated showdown.
Auger-Aliassime’s journey to the final has been unconventional. In the semifinals, his opponent Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic had to retire at 3-3 due to injury, granting Auger-Aliassime passage to the championship round. This marks the third time in the tournament that the Canadian has progressed due to his opponent’s withdrawal or retirement.
Earlier in the competition, Czech player Jakub Mensik retired during their third-round match. Additionally, Italian top seed Jannik Sinner withdrew from their scheduled quarterfinal fixture, allowing Auger-Aliassime to advance without playing a point.
Despite these unusual circumstances, Auger-Aliassime remains focused on the upcoming final against Rublev. The two have met five times before, with Rublev leading their head-to-head record 4-1. Auger-Aliassime, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 6 in late 2022, views this final as a significant milestone in his career.
“It’s been a strange tournament for me, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to play in the final,” Auger-Aliassime said. “Facing Andrey will be a tough challenge, but I’m ready to give it my all.”
The Madrid Open final promises to be an exciting contest between two dynamic players, each seeking to claim the prestigious Masters 1000 title.
