By Tony Fairbairn
- Andrey Rublev [7] v Taylor Fritz [12]
- Jiri Lehecka [30] v Felix Auger-Aliassime
MADRID, SPAIN – Andrey Rublev takes on Taylor Fritz in the semi-finals of Madrid as opportunity awaits with the world’s best players being absent from the semi-final line-up.
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Andrey Rublev [7] v Taylor Fritz [12] | H2H: Fritz leads 5-3
After a poor run of form, Andrey Rublev is rejuvenated in Madrid having knocked out defending champion Carlos Alcaraz to reach the last four. The world number eight has played impressive tennis and is now two wins away from a second Masters 1000 title of his career. Standing in Rublev’s way in the semi-finals is another players who is searching for a second Masters 1000 title in the form of Taylor Fritz with the American also regaining form with wins over Hubert Hurkacz and Francisco Cerundolo.
H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Andrey Rublev [7] v Taylor Fritz [12] | H2H: Fritz leads 5-3 |
| Madrid 2024 | Madrid, Spain |
| Clay (O) | Prize Money: €284,590 |
| Second on Manolo Santana Stadium (Not before 15:00 BST) | Sky/Now TV <- Subscription Required |
After a poor run of form, Rublev has regained control over his power and managed to keep his mental state as stable as possible in order to reach the semi-finals in Madrid.
Regardless of the outcome in the semi-final, Rublev will hope this is a platform for bigger things over the next couple of months as he searches for a second Masters 1000 title in Madrid.
Standing in Rublev’s way of a place in the final is Fritz who has also regained confidence in Madrid with two wins against world-class players.
Now Fritz will also search for his second Masters 1000 title as he aims for consistent momentum over the next few months.
After his big win over Alcaraz, Rublev praised his calmness and spoke about his recent poor run of form.
“I think the key was I was completely calm the whole match. I did not say one word, even if I was losing,” Rublev told the ATP website.
“That was the key and I was able to serve even better near the end. In the beginning, I was not serving that well but little by little, after set one, I served better and better and finished really well.
“When you start to think of how good everything is, then for six weeks I was not winning at all. So it is better to not think at all. That it is just a moment and it happens to everyone. Everyone has been through these moments and the most important thing is to keep working and keep improving.”
Meanwhile Fritz spoke about how conditions positively impacts his game as he prepares for the semi-finals.
“The bounces are still very high, so it works great for my forehand,” Fritz explained to the ATP website.
“I can get it up on people and set it up to be aggressive on people. It helps my serve. I felt it was slow tonight. It was my first match at night and felt like a different tournament that I had been playing. The day conditions are great for me to serve and attack.”
Rublev will use the forehand to dictate play as he looks to neutralize Fritz’s forehand with depth.
Meanwhile Fritz will hope to maintain his efficiency on serve as he uses the forehand to limit Rublev’s options from the baseline.
This will be a match full of ferocity and pace with a lot on the line for both players with conditions favouring Fritz’s game more than it does Rublev’s.
Prediction: Fritz in three sets.
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Jiri Lehecka [30] v Felix Auger-Aliassime | H2H: Lehecka leads 1-0
It’s been an incredible week for Jiri Lehecka who is into the semi-finals after defeating Rafael Nadal in the Spaniard’s last Madrid tournament and then advancing into the last four after Daniil Medvedev’s retirement. Now the Czech Republican will aim to reach his first Masters 1000 final as he aims for a place in the world’s top 20. Next for Lehecka is Felix Auger-Aliassime who is into the last four in Madrid with a victory over Barcelona champion Casper Ruud before Jannik Sinner withdrew from their quarter-final match.
H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Jiri Lehecka [30] v Felix Auger-Aliassime | H2H: Lehecka leads 1-0 |
| Madrid 2024 | Madrid, Spain |
| Clay (O) | Prize Money: €284,590 |
| Third on Manolo Santana Stadium (Not before 19:00 BST) | Sky/Now TV <- Subscription Required |
Lehecka has had a dream tournament so far having ended Nadal’s dream farewell in Madrid on his way to the last four.
Now the Czech Republican aims for a maiden Masters 1000 final as well as a place in the world’s top 20.
Next for Lehecka is Auger-Aliassime who has rejuvenated his form having beaten the in-form Ruud on his way to the last four.
The Canadian will now aim to fulfil his potential as he will not have a better chance to reach his first ever Masters 1000 final.
Speaking ahead of the semi-final Lehecka spoke about his recovery from a back injury in Monte-Carlo and why conditions are suited to his game.
“I think that after my back injury, I came back in a different way,” Lehecka told the ATP website.
“I tried to focus more on the quality and on the intensity of all the practices. I tried to work hard with preparation for this week. And I think that from day one, when I arrived here, I felt good. I got used to the conditions.”
Meanwhile Auger-Aliassime spoke about practice and patience being rewarded as he is into the semi-final in Madrid.
“Just believing in my work. It’s a marathon, this sport,” Auger-Aliassime stated to the ATP website.
“I’m trying with my team to build a better level through the weeks. Sometimes it just doesn’t go your way. I’ve had some tight losses in the last few weeks, but this time it did go my way and it’s going more and more my way this week, so I’m really happy that I’m able to show what I’ve been working on.
“I feel like the backhand I’m hitting much better. I’m serving well, being more consistent with the second serve. All the things that I’ve been trying to work on are starting to show on the match court as well.”
Lehecka will aim to continue his aggression on the forehand as he looks to test Auger-Aliassime’s defensive skills.
On the other hand, Auger-Aliassime will look to serve efficiently in order to neutralize Lehecka’s effective returning.
There will be a lot of nerves and tension in this match with so much on the line but Lehecka starts this match as slight favourite.
Prediction: Lehecka in three sets.
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