MADRID – Andrey Rublev battled through a suspected virus and an anaesthetised foot to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 to claim the Madrid Open title on May 5, but revealed that he will now have to return to hospital to make a full recovery.

The 26-year-old, who has struggled with health issues throughout the tournament, recovered from the illness and an first-set wobble to clinch his second Masters 1000 title in just under three hours.

“I’m still sick and tomorrow I’ll go back to the hospital for a full check-up to know exactly what’s going on,” Rublev said.

“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.”

Rublev, who rose two spots to world No. 6 following the victory, added that he needed an anaesthetic to play the final.

“They put an anaesthetic in the toe 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 on. 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 came into the Madrid tournament in poor form having lost his previous four matches on the tour, eliminated second seed and home favourite Carlos Alcaraz and also beat American Taylor Fritz to reach the final.

“It was an incredible match. Felix deserved (in) the same way as me to win today and we showed a great battle together. The most important thing was that the people enjoyed it. Our sport is like this, we cannot have both winners,” said the Russian.

Auger-Aliassime started superbly by breaking to love in the first game and then again in the fifth game for a 4-1 lead. Rublev recovered a break when the 23-year-old Canadian went long, and consolidated for a 4-3 deficit.

Rublev saved a set point to hold for 5-4 down, but Auger-Aliassime clinched it at the second opportunity with a forehand down the line.

In the second set, Auger-Aliassime held for 3-3 with a brilliant drop shot after Rublev squandered a break point.

They stayed on serve until the 12th game where Rublev brought up two set points, converting the second to take it to a decider.

He raced through his service games and put heavy pressure on his opponent’s serve, forcing a break point in the second game and two more in the fourth, none of which he could take.

Auger-Aliassime, in his first Masters 1000 final appearance, produced huge serves to fight his way out of tough spots, racking up 14 aces in the match to Rublev’s seven.

However, Rublev dropped just three points on his serve in the third set, while Auger-Aliassime trailed in all of his service games but always battled back, until the decisive 12th game. He double-faulted to hand Rublev the title, with the Russian falling to the floor in delight.

“It is normal to have ups and downs, but my focus now is to keep working and trying to improve,” Rublev said.

“I showed a great level of tennis from the first match and, in the end, I was able to win the title. Now the most important thing is to try and recover and be ready for Rome.” REUTERS