Russian tennis star Andrey Rublev overcame illness and injury to secure a thrilling victory at the Madrid Open on Sunday. Despite battling a suspected virus and an inflamed foot, Rublev defeated Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 in a grueling three-hour final to claim his second Masters 1000 title.
The 26-year-old has been unwell for over a week, a condition that unusually persists for him. “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 revealed during the post-match press conference. “I’ve been sick for eight or nine days now, it’s not normal. Usually, I get sick for two or three days at most. This is the first time in my life that I feel this bad.”
Rublev’s determination was evident as he played the final with an anesthetized foot due to inflammation. “They put an anesthetic in the finger on my foot because somehow it got inflamed and started to get bigger. The pressure started to be on the bone, and I couldn’t even put on my shoe,” he explained. “The feeling was similar to when you break it, so they put an anesthetic so I don’t feel it and at least I could play without thinking.”
Coming into the tournament, Rublev faced challenges, having lost his previous four matches on tour. Yet, he displayed remarkable resilience, eliminating second seed and home favorite Carlos Alcaraz and defeating American Taylor Fritz en route to the final. “I think it is normal to have ups and downs, but my focus now is to keep working and trying to improve,” Rublev stated. “I think I showed a great level of tennis from the first match and in the end, I was able to win the title.”
As he looks ahead, Rublev emphasizes recovery. “Now I think the most important thing is to try and recover and be ready for Rome,” he added, setting his sights on the upcoming Italian Open. His victory in Madrid, under such strenuous conditions, underscores his determination and potential impact on the tennis world.
Reference(s):
Tennis: Rublev to return to hospital after taking Madrid title
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