Week of different emotions experienced in this Mutua Madrid Open 2024. Rafa Nadal’s return to a Masters 1000 and the infinite physical problems have been the main protagonists of a tournament that closes with Andrey Rublev as the great champion.
The change in conditions in the Spanish tournament marks the difference with respect to others such as Rome or Monte Carlo. The Russian tennis player has been able to adapt perfectly to overcome the bad moment he came from. Among the injured were Carlos Alcaraz, who was again feeling pain in his right forearm, Jannik Sinner, who was suffering from hip problems, and Jiri Lehecka, forced to retire in the semi-final due to back pain.
Without a doubt, this Mutua Madrid Open 2024 has left multiple surprises in its main draw, with Andrey Rublev, who had just lost several first rounds, winning the precious trophy. The Russian said throughout the week that in tennis everything could change very quickly, and so it has to his benefit. As a reward in the classification, Rublev adds two positions and is placed as number six in the world, just one place away from his best ranking so far. Andrey himself admitted that he has suffered several physical problems this week and that he has been very close to failing, although he finally survived these to win for the first time in singles in Madrid.
THE AWARDS IN MADRID
Opposite him in the final was a great Felix Auger Aliassime, also with muscle problems. The tension and fatigue were evident with cramps in the Canadian’s legs, although he was also happy to have made it to such an appointment. The American makes one of the great leaps in the ATP Rankings, climbing 15 positions to return to the Top 20. He is still far from his best moment, but it is a great step that Felix takes with this fortunate week in which he has shown great tennis .
Jiri Lehecka has been another of the great surprises of this Mutua Madrid Open 2024, displaying a spectacular level, both from the back of the court and at the net. The young Czech, despite a relapse of his back injury, gets the good news of achieving his best ranking so far: 23rd place.
THE FIGHT ON THE PODIUM
Novak Djokovic, like last year, decided not to travel to the Spanish capital to play the Masters 1000, so he neither loses nor gains any points. Carlos Alcaraz was defending the title, something that he has not managed to do and for which he loses 800 points on the circuit’s official list. Meanwhile, just above, Jannik Sinner adds 200 points by reaching the quarterfinals, a round that he ultimately did not compete in. This makes the Italian gain 1,000 cushion points with respect to the Murcian, a distance that distances them quite a bit in the ATP Rankings. The one who gets closer to Alcaraz is Medvedev, who is only 150 points away from overtaking the young Spaniard.
NAVONE AND TABILO COME CLOSER TO THE TOP 30
Far from Madrid, Mariano Navone conquered the Cagliari Challenger to climb 10 places in the ATP Rankings and remain just one position away from the Top 30. An award that comes after spectacular consistency shown by the Argentine in recent weeks on the circuit. Alejandro Tabilo, winner of the Aix-En-Provence Challenger, follows Mariano on the table. They are very important positions, since the line is very fine to determine the seeds of the tournaments, with special attention to Roland Garros.