[ad_1]
This Mutua Madrid Open reminds us clay-court tennis is usually a punishing expertise.
Felix Auger-Aliassime made a Masters mark after Jiri Lehecka’s painful exit from as we speak’s Madrid semifinals.
World No. 35 Auger-Aliassime superior to his maiden Mutua Madrid Open last—and first Masters 1000 last—when Lehecka retired from their semifinal struggling obvious again spasms.
“Sorry for you Jiri, you’ll be again,” Auger-Aliassime wrote on the court-side digicam after scoring his fifth consecutive win although not almost the way in which he wished.
Heartbreaking 💔
Jiri Lehecka is compelled to retire with an harm at 3-3 within the first set, sending Felix Auger-Aliassime into his first Masters 1000 last.#MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/N3tihT0Wj8— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 3, 2024
“I really feel actually unhealthy for him, I’ve had accidents myself,” Auger-Aliassime stated afterward. “We are able to all think about what it seems like to come back out on an evening like this, hoping to win, to undergo. Having a battle your opponent and never with the ability to play.
“I’ve lots of empathy for Jiri. I can’t do something however attempt to put together for Sunday.”
Auger-Aliassime, who defeated Casper Ruud, 6-4, 7-5, within the spherical of 16, took a walkover from top-seeded Jannik Sinner into as we speak’s semifinal.
Returning to court docket after a medical timeout to deal with his cranky again, Lehecka gained two factors to go up 30-love within the seventh sport of the match.
Attempting to alter path, Lehecka grimaced, leaned on his racquet and crumpled to the court docket in clear agony.
The Thirtieth-seeded Czech retired at 3-all, 30-15 sending Auger-Aliassime into Sunday’s last towards Andrey Rublev.
Earlier, eighth-ranked Rublev defeated Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-3 to advance to his twenty fifth profession last on the Mutua Madrid Open as we speak.
The 23-year-old Auger-Aliassime is the primary Canadian to achieve an ATP Masters 1000 last on clay and third Canadian ATP Masters 1000 finalist for the reason that sequence started in 1990.
Former world No. 6 Auger-Aliassime, whose profession has been stalled by harm, is thru to his fifteenth ATP last. Auger-Aliassime, who misplaced the primary eight finals of his profession, will play for a sixth profession title on Sunday towards Rublev. The 2023 Monte-Carlo champion Rublev is 4-1 vs. Auger-Aliassime with 4 of their 5 conferences going the three-set distance.
Earlier than as we speak’s second semifinal began, Lehecka was clutching at his decrease again whereas taking shadow swings within the gymnasium.
The rating was even after six video games when the physio began a medical analysis on Lehecka, who appeared to be struggling a decrease again harm.
After about 25 minutes, Lehecka and the physio left the court docket for therapy.
Returning to court docket clutching a white towel, Lehecka resumed play on the 31 minute mark.
The Czech gained the primary two factors after play resumed. After serving the third level, Lehecka turned, leaned on his racquet and toppled to the clay clearly in ache. Lehecka signaled to Auger-Aliassime he was accomplished and walked to internet.
Auger-Aliassime, who has suffered via a litany of accidents himself, gave an emotional embrace to Lehecka at internet.
[ad_2]
Source link
