Fever and the chances against Ailing Rublev’s victory

Even though he was suffering from a fever and had trouble sleeping, Andrey Rublev managed to bounce back and win the Madrid Open for the first time.

Rublev had been unwell all week, but he overcame it to win his second Masters 1000 championship on Sunday by defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime in three sets.

At the claycourt competition in the capital of Spain, Auger-Aliassime double-faulted on the last point, and Rublev prevailed 4-6 7-5 7-5.

“This is the most proud title I have ever had in my career,” Rublev said. “Every day I was on the verge of death. I was up all night, not sleeping. For the last three or four days, I have not slept.

Rublev gave the medics “full credit,” saying they were “doing some tricky things” to ensure he was fit to play.

Rublev, who was rated seventh, remarked, “I have no words.” “You would never have imagined that I could win a title if you knew what I had gone through in the last nine days.”

Last year in Monte Carlo, the 26-year-old Russian took home his maiden Masters 1000 victory. This was Auger-Aliassime’s first final at this level.

“I can’t even put on my shoe because of the way my foot got inflamed, grew bigger, and started to put pressure on the bone. That’s why they put an anesthetic in it.” They administered an anesthetic so I could play without thinking since the sensation was the same as when you broke it, said Rublev.