Felix Auger-Aliassime played only 3 full-time matches (out of 6 needed to reach the final of the ATP1000) in Madrid. He faces Andrey Rublev in the final. Hope without health problems for both players.
2024 Madrid Open Men's Final Preview: Awesome Andrey Rublev faces walk-over wizard Felix Auger-Aliassime for Caja Magica supremacy
ATPSunday, 05 May 2024 at 13:44
While the WTA Final at the Madrid Open was one between the top two, the ATP final is more of a resurgence mixed with injury luck battle as Andrey Rublev faces Felix Auger-Aliassime for the latest big title on the road towards Roland Garros.
Our preview looks ahead to the main talking points in the tie, their route to the final and also Head to Head as the Caja Magica has a new champion awaiting.
Alcaraz, Sinner all fall by the wayside and Auger-Aliassime resurgent but beneficial
Even Rome is feeling the effects of what can be described as a bit of an ATP injury crisis with Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev all either injuring themselves or making prior issues worse during the Madrid Open. All but Medvedev have already withdrawn from next week. But the adage is you can only beat what's in front of you.
That can be said for the duo in the final on Sunday 5 May. Auger-Aliassime in particular has benefited. He has only completed three matches throughout the course of the week with Jakub Mensik, Jannik Sinner and Jiri Lehecka all withdrawing either prior or mid match due to injury. It has been a bit of a recurring theme for the Canadian who himself has been pretty befuddled about how his luck has turned like this.
But that is what he has needed after 18 months of hell of sorts with results not coming and playing through injuries that meant he needed to continue playing and couldn't take time off to heal. Auger-Aliassime is having his best run since Indian Wells last year and it is much needed for the Canadian who also recently ditched Toni Nadal. Sometimes you need a bit of luck and he is certainly reaping the benefits this week.
Rampant Rublev returns from mental block
Andrey Rublev is the other half of the final and will perhaps be the favourite. He has had a more tougher run through but one that will certainly inspire confidence. He could barely win a match after line judge dramas in Dubai earlier this season which got him defaulted. Admitting it was a bit of a mental block, this is the tonic he needs.
In particular, he was special against Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz and amid issues with even winning he stands to win a second ATP Masters 1000 title on Sunday. Funny how tennis can work. He won the Monte-Carlo Masters in 2023, but has lost three finals barring that. It is his first in Madrid though and he will be considered as more likely out of the two. For Auger-Aliassime, it is a first. A far cry from a player who had mental blocks in even reaching finals no mind winning them. So certainly a battle between two players deserving of some luck and success.
Rublev will be the final favourite and he sits more likely in their head to head. He is 4-1 up and has won against Auger-Aliassime in a final before in Marseille. All of their matches though have been tough battles so another is expected on Sunday.
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