Andrey Rublev defeats Taylor Fritz to reach fifth Masters 1000 final of career in Madrid

Andrey Rublev has defeated Taylor Fritz, 6-4, 6-3, to reach the fifth Masters 1000 final of his career—and the milestone 25th overall ATP final of his career—at the Mutua Madrid Open.

He’s now a win away from the second Masters 1000 title of his career, having won his first on the clay of Monte Carlo last year.

It’s the fourth different Masters 1000 final he’s reached.

ANDREY RUBLEV CAREER MASTERS 1000 FINALS:
2021 Monte Carlo: l. to Tsitsipas, 6-3, 6-3
2021 Cincinnati: l. to Zverev, 6-2, 6-3
2023 Monte Carlo: d. Rune, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5
2023 Shanghai: l. to Hurkacz, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (8)
2024 Madrid: plays Lehecka or Auger-Aliassime

It looked like it might be a closer battle on Friday as Fritz made a promising start to the match, breaking in the very first game, but Rublev broke right back for 1-all—then, after seven straight holds he pounced, breaking at love to close out the first set.

The two stayed on serve for the first five games of the second set when Rublev pounced again, bringing up triple break point with Fritz serving at 2-3, 0-40, and after Fritz fought off the first two break points, Rublev converted on the third with a big baseline overhead winner that smacked the baseline.

The two held from there until it was all over, with Rublev serving it out at love to close it out after an hour and 12 minutes on court.

It was a good quality match from both players, Rublev hitting 20 winners to 19 unforced errors and Fritz with an even 16 and 16.

“I started really tight,” Rublev said in his on-court interview.

“I missed a couple of opportunities, a couple of easy shots, but it’s part of the sport, part of the tennis. When he broke me I thought, ‘It’s only the beginning. I still have a long set. Maybe he will also start not good on his serve.’ And I think the first three points he didn’t put a first serve, so I was able to win two points, 0-30, and then I won break point, and somehow we got back to 1-1, and then the match was equal until the end of the set.”

Up next for Rublev will be the winner of the second semifinal between Jiri Lehecka and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Rublev is 4-1 against Auger-Aliassime, though in their only meeting this year he barely scraped by the Canadian in the second round of Rotterdam, 3-6, 7-6 (6), 7-5.

He’s 2-2 against Lehecka, with Lehecka winning their only meeting this year in the third round of Indian Wells, 6-4, 6-4.