Andrey Rublev overcame a suspected virus and a foot issue requiring anesthesia to defeat Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6 7-5 7-5, securing the Madrid Open title on Sunday. Despite his victory, Rublev disclosed that he would need to return to the hospital for further treatment to fully recover.
The 26-year-old Russian, who has been battling health problems throughout the tournament, rebounded from illness and an initial set setback to secure his second Masters 1000 title in just under three hours.
“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 stated during a news conference. “I’ve been sick for eight or nine days now, it’s not normal, I’m not really getting better, which is strange because usually I get sick for two or three days at the most and maybe a fever, but nothing special. This is the first time in my life that I feel this bad.”
The seventh seed also revealed that he required an anesthetic to compete in the final. “They put an anaesthetic in the finger on my foot because somehow it got inflamed and started to get bigger and the pressure started to be on the bone and I can’t even put my shoe. The feeling was similar to when you broke it, so they put an anaesthetic so I don’t feel it and at least I could play without thinking.”
Rublev, who entered the Madrid tournament in poor form with four consecutive losses on the tour, defeated second seed and home favorite Carlos Alcaraz and also bested 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. I think I showed a great level of tennis from the first match and in the end I was able to win the title. Now I think the most important thing is to try and recover and be ready for Rome,” he concluded.
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