In Madrid, Rublev relaunches, but not Rune
While Andrey Rublev qualified for the last 16 in Madrid, Holger Rune fell back into his old ways.
Rune, ejected from the top 10 since Monte-Carlo, just can't do it anymore. Swept aside by Struff in Munich (6-2, 6-0 in 44 minutes), the Dane fell from grace again in Madrid. Despite a heroic victory in his opening match (5-7, 7-6, 6-4 against Navone), the world number 12 was unable to follow up his performance. Against Tallon Griekspoor (world no. 25), he was unable to escape the trap set by the Dutchman (6-4, 4-6, 6-3). Griekspoor, who played a complete match (25 winners, 14 unforced errors), deprived Rune of a reunion with Rublev, who will challenge him in the last 16.
As for Andrey Rublev, he's finally starting to win again. In a crisis of confidence since his disqualification in Dubai (against Bublik in the semi-finals), the Russian finds himself on the Madrid ochre. After a solid first game, the world number 8 mastered a tough Davidovich Fokina to win in 2h03 (7-6, 6-4). Very aggressive from the baseline (28 winners, 23 unforced errors), Rublev finally broke his opponent after a fine duel.
He now needs to confirm his renewed form in the last 16 against Griekspoor. If he succeeds, he could well meet Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals (if the defending champion also makes it that far).
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