Tennis

Andrey Rublev's remarkable season has been marked by both triumph and adversity. After capturing his second ATP Masters 1000 title in Madrid, the Russian faced a life-threatening health scare that nearly prevented him from competing in Asia.Rublev underwent surgery just days before his scheduled departure for China, where he was set to play in Hangzhou, Beijing, and Shanghai. Doctors initially informed him that he would be unable to play in China due to the severity of his condition, which required a month of recovery time.However, Rublev defied the odds and made a remarkable return to action in Beijing, where he defeated Pablo Carreno Busta and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to reach the quarterfinals. Despite his impressive performance, Rublev admitted that he is still not fully fit and is hoping to regain his fitness through match play.The surgery was performed to prevent the amputation of an unspecified limb, Rublev revealed. He was fortunate that the issue was identified within the first few hours, as amputation would have been necessary after five or six hours.Rublev's health scare is his second major setback this season. In Madrid, he was hospitalized with inflammation in his throat and a swollen toe, which turned out to be a tonsillar abscess that restricted his airways.Despite these challenges, Rublev remains determined to finish the season strong. He is currently ranked No. 7 in the Race to Turin and is hoping to qualify for the ATP Finals.

Andrey Rublev and Felix Auger-Aliassime Set for Thrilling Madrid Masters FinalDespite a tumultuous week in men's tennis, the Madrid Masters has produced an intriguing final between Andrey Rublev and Felix Auger-Aliassime.Rublev, ranked 8th in the world, has endured a recent slump, winning only one match in the past two months. However, he has rediscovered his form in Madrid, defeating Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz en route to the final.Auger-Aliassime, once ranked 6th, has also struggled with injuries and has fallen to 35th in the rankings. He has benefited from opponent withdrawals in Madrid, but he also recorded a notable victory over Casper Ruud.This will be a rare opportunity for both players to win a Masters 1000 title. Rublev has reached four previous finals at this level, winning one in Monte Carlo last year. Auger-Aliassime is playing in his first Masters 1000 final.Their head-to-head record stands at 4-1 in Rublev's favor, but four of those matches have gone to a third set. Their last encounter in Rotterdam earlier this year was a three-set thriller.Both players possess powerful forehands and two-handed backhands, relying on pace and placement rather than spin or variety. The rallies are expected to be long and fast-paced.Rublev appears to be in better form than Auger-Aliassime, having backed up his win over Alcaraz with a victory over Fritz. However, Auger-Aliassime has the potential to upset the odds, especially if he can capitalize on his strong serve.Regardless of the outcome, the Madrid Masters final promises to be a captivating battle between two talented and determined players.