A curse, that of the Madrid Open which after the withdrawals of Sinner and Medvedev today also saw that of Lehecka. The Czech player abandoned the semifinal against Felix Auger-Aliassime at 3-3 in the first set, in tears due to a back problem. Consequently, it is the Canadian who secures the pass to the final of the Madrid tournament.
Auger-Aliassime had already passed the previous round (quarterfinals) due to the withdrawal of Sinner who did not even take to the field. Now he lands in the final after just 6 games played against Lehecka, although in the round of 16 he had prevailed over the reigning Barcelona champion Casper Ruud. The Canadian born in 2000 will face in the final of the Spanish Masters 1000 the Russian Rublev who today defeated the American Fritz in two sets (6-4, 6-3). Neither of the two players has ever won the Madrid tournament, so it would be a first for both. Rublev won an ATP tournament in 2024, the Honk Hong Open (ATP 250) and Madrid will be his 25th career final (fifth in a Masters 1000). For Aliassime, this is instead his first 'thousand' final in his career.
Time and where to watch the Madrid final
The Masters 1000 final in Madrid between Auger-Aliassime and Rublev will take place Sunday, May 5th at 18:30. The match will be played on the clay courts of 'Manolo Santana'. The Madrid Open final will be broadcast live on Sky, on the Sky Sport Uno and Sky Sport Tennis channels. Also available for streaming on NOW and on the Sky Go app.
The head-to-head
Rublev comes with the favorites' prediction but certainly cannot afford to underestimate a player like Auger-Aliassime who still boasts the victory against Ruud in the round of 16 of the tournament. Rublev and Aliassime had already faced each other in 2024 at the ATP in Rotterdam, where the Russian had prevailed in 3 sets (3-6, 7-6, 7-5) in the match valid for the round of 16.
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