Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev upset in Madrid Open; Aryana Sablenka stepped forward. tennis news
Leading men’s seeds Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev were knocked out by fellow Russians in the fourth round of the Madrid Open on Tuesday.
Women’s second seed Aryna Sabalenka reached the last four after coming from a set and a break down against Mayar Sherif. Sabalenka defeated the Egyptian player 2-6, 6-2, 6-1. The reigning Australian Open champion reached her fifth semi-final in seven tournaments. He won Madrid in 2021.
Sherif, ranked 59th, was the first Egyptian player to make the quarterfinals at a WTA 1000 event.
No. 2 seed Medvedev lost to qualifier Aslan Karatsev 7–6(1), 6–4. Kartsev, ranked 121, earned his first win against a top-10 opponent since 2021.
No. 5 seed Rublev lost 7-6(8), 6-4 to his doubles partner Karen Khachanov. Khachanov saved two set points in the tiebreaker in his first win against a top-10 opponent on clay since 2019.
Medvedev entered the match with a tour-leading 33-4 record this year.
Karatsev is a former No. 14 in the world and has won his last three Tour titles in Sydney last year.
“I feel great,” said Karatsev. He will play Taylor Fritz or Zhang Zhizhen in the quarterfinals.
Khachanov, ranked 12th, believed his tiebreaker was crucial after losing to Rublev in Monte Carlo three weeks earlier, when Rublev won his first Masters 1000 title.
Khachanov said, “It is always difficult to play against each other, because on the one hand we know each other’s game perfectly, because we have been training together for so many years.” “At the same time, we know what to expect but are definitely a little nervous to play against each other. We are good friends.”
Khachanov improved his win-loss record to 19–0 in 2023 after winning the first set. His next opponent would be defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or 13th seed Alexander Zverev, who met late Tuesday.
Khachanov and Rublev advanced to the doubles quarter-finals, where Jamie Murray and Michael Venus await.
Khachanov said, “This (singles) match is over.” “We probably need some time to absorb it. It was like that in Monte Carlo. The day before, we played doubles, we lost a very tough match, and then the next day he beat me. Life goes on after a day. . He’s doing well this year, I’m doing well, I’m just happy.”
Also in the quarterfinals was Daniel Altmaier, who beat Jaume Munar 6–3, 6–0.
Munar was upset by a call that put him 3–0 down in the final set. He challenged this and was enraged when the verdict was passed against him, saying: “I will destroy this machine. How can this happen? The mark is clear.
He went courtside to some tour officials and argued with them about the challenge system, telling them “we’re playing for 80,000 euros ($87,600) here.”
The text of this story is published from a wire agency feed without any modification.
