Madrid Masters Update: Khachanov Edges Rublev in a Tight Round Four as Alcaraz Faces Zverev’s Winner
In Madrid, the day featured a high-stakes clash between Russian stars Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev during the tournament’s fourth round. Khachanov came out on top with a 7-6, 6-4 victory, earning a hard-fought win that extended to a 1 hour and 42 minute post-match interview. The match underscored Khachanov’s steady advantage in key moments of the decider, while Rublev pressed relentlessly, illustrating the depth of Russia’s clay-court talent at this Masters event.
Looking ahead to the quarterfinals, Khachanov is scheduled to meet the winner of the potential blockbuster pairing between Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Alexander Zverev of Germany. That matchup was set to determine who would advance to the next round, with both Spaniard Alcaraz and German Zverev among the most anticipated contenders in the event lineup. The quarterfinals promise to deliver another collision of top-level serving and rallying, with Khachanov aiming to capitalize on momentum from his latest win.
Beyond the Moscow-born players, other Russians remained active in the draw. Aslan Karatsev and Daniil Medvedev continued their campaigns, with today’s schedule including a head-to-head that only amplified the intrigue surrounding Russia’s presence at the event. Both players have shown resilience on clay, navigating long rallies and adapting their strategies to the Madrid courts as the field narrows toward the late rounds.
The tournament, played on clay, carried a substantial prize fund of €7,705,780, reflecting its status among the world’s premier Masters events. In the previous year, Carlos Alcaraz triumphed in the final against Alexander Zverev, marking a significant milestone in his ongoing ascent in the sport. The current year’s competition builds on that legacy as the sport’s best face off across the Madrid clay.
In the official rankings tracked by the Professional Tennis Players Association, Karen Khachanov sits at number 12, while Andrey Rublev is positioned at number 6. The global leaderboard remains led by Novak Djokovic, with Carlos Alcaraz climbing to second and Daniil Medvedev holding third place. Kasper Ruud’s position on the ranking list had recently shifted, highlighting the fluid nature of the standings as the season presses on. The ATP rankings continue to reflect a mix of consistency and surprise as players rotate through the decisive stages of the clay season.
On the women’s side, Veronika Kudermetova spoke candidly about her recovery routine after two grueling matches. She described unwinding with beer as part of her approach to regrouping after back-to-back battles, a candid glimpse into an athlete’s method for managing fatigue and maintaining focus across lengthy clay sessions. Kudermetova’s experience underscores the varied, personal strategies players deploy to sustain form when the schedule becomes punishing and the matches extend over long hours on court.