Carlos Alcaraz's quest for a third consecutive Madrid Open title came to an end as he was defeated by Andrey Rublev in a thrilling quarterfinal match. The second-seeded Spaniard, who had been struggling with a right forearm injury, lost to the seventh-seeded Rublev in three sets at the Caja Magica center court.
Alcaraz, who had already faced a tough three-set battle in the previous round, appeared out of sorts and error-prone towards the end of the match. Despite his efforts to push through the discomfort, he was unable to match Rublev's level of play.
Following his exit from Madrid, Alcaraz expressed his intention to participate in the upcoming Rome tournament as part of his preparation for the French Open later this month. He acknowledged the need to work on his fitness and recovery to ensure he competes at his best.
Meanwhile, Rublev, who is seeking his second ATP 1000 title, put on a solid performance with 30 winners to secure the victory. He will face either Taylor Fritz or Francisco Cerundolo in the next round.
Sabalenka Advances to Women's Semifinals
In the women's draw, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka continued her impressive run in Madrid by defeating 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva in straight sets. Sabalenka, the second seed, maintained her dominance on the court and did not face a single break point in the match.
Next, Sabalenka will take on fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina, who staged a remarkable comeback to overcome Yulia Putintseva in a hard-fought battle. Rybakina, who has been in stellar form this season, has won eight consecutive matches and is aiming to reach her sixth final of the year.
With the Madrid Open delivering thrilling encounters and unexpected twists, tennis fans are eagerly anticipating the upcoming matches as the tournament progresses.
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