Rublev Auger-Aliassime advance to Madrid final Lehecka hurt

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MADRID -- Andrey Rublev beat Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-3 on Friday to reach the Madrid Open final where he will meet Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Auger-Aliassime advanced after Jiri Lehecka had to retire at 3-3 in the first set of their semifinal.

The men's final for the clay-court event is on Sunday.

The eighth-ranked Rublev entered Madrid on a four-match losing streak after early exits in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Barcelona. He has won four straight in Spain's capital, including against two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.

"It's crazy," Rublev said. "It's the good thing about sports, about tennis. One week can change everything, you have to remember that ... because you can't perform always at 100%, so it is normal there will be ups and downs."

Rublev is seeking his 16th career title and second of the season after winning Hong Kong in January.

Lehecka wept -- and smashed his racket on the ground -- when he called it quits due to an apparent injury. Auger-Aliassime hugged him at the net to show his support for the 31st-ranked Czech player who knocked out Rafael Nadal on Wednesday.

Auger-Aliassime had a walkover in the quarterfinals when top-seeded Jannik Sinner said he couldn't play due to a hip injury. The 35th-ranked Canadian, who beat Casper Ruud this week, will be seeking his sixth career title.

"It's kind of a weird situation to be in on my part," Auger-Aliassime said. "It's never happened to me in my career, a withdrawal or a walkover or retirement of this sort, and back-to-back like this. I have a lot of empathy for Jiri, and I can't do anything but try to prepare for Sunday."

The men's side has been hard hit by injuries and fitness concerns.

Novak Djokovic withdrew before the tournament. In addition to Sinner and Lehecka, Daniil Medvedev retired from his quarterfinal with Lehecka; Alcaraz was hampered by a sore right arm before he fell to Rublev; and Nadal did what he could before bowing out of what was likely his last appearance in his home country.

Fritz, ranked 13th, entered the match with a 5-3 record against Rublev. He was also seeking his second title of the season and eighth of his career. He won Delray Beach in February.

After an evenly contested start, Rublev pounced by breaking Fritz from love on his last service game of the first set. He remained in control. Fritz hit seven aces to Rublev's five but landed only 55% of his first serves. Rublev landed 75% of his first serves and struck 20 winners to Fritz's 16.

"Mentally I was feeling much better and I was able to perform," Rublev said. "Putting emotions in the right direction. For sure it has helped me to reach the final."

On Saturday, top-ranked Iga Swiatek will face No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in a repeat of last year's women's final won by Sabalenka.