ATP Madrid: Andrey Rublev downs Stan Wawrinka in straight sets

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The Monte Carlo champion Andrey Rublev made a winning start at the Madrid Masters. Andrey faced a former finalist Stan Wawrinka and scored a 7-5, 6-4 triumph in an hour and 17 minutes for a place in the third round. Andrey and Stan met for the first time in two and a half years, and the Russian grabbed his second victory from four encounters.

Andrey fired nine aces and dropped four points behind the first serve. He lost serve two times and delivered three return games from 43% of the return points won. Rublev played better in the shortest rallies up to four strokes and prevailed in the crucial moments to seal the deal in straight sets.

Stan had 21 winners and 20 unforced errors, solid numbers but not good enough to challenge Andrey's 25-10 ratio. The Swiss came from 30-0 down in the encounter's first game and clinched it with a forehand winner. Wawrinka moved 2-1 up with another fine hold and created three break chances in the next one.

Andrey Rublev defeated Stan Wawrinka in Madrid.

Andrey denied them and cracked a forehand down the line winner for a vital hold and 2-2. Both players served well in the next four games before the veteran faced a break point at 4-4.

He canceled it with an ace down the T line and held for 5-4. Rublev held at love in the tenth game and pushed strong on the return in the next one. The Russian forced the rival's mistake and grabbed a break at 15 for a 6-5 advantage and a boost.

Andrey served for the set in game 12 and held at 30 for 7-5 after 40 minutes. Stan made a fresh start in the second set, holding at love in the opening game and delivering a break at 15 in the next one for 2-0. Rublev broke back in game three and locked the result at 2-2 when Wawrinka netted a backhand.

Andrey forced Stan's mistake in the fifth game to clinch his second straight break and open a 3-2 gap. The better-ranked player held at love in game six to confirm the advantage and move 4-2 ahead and closer to the finish line.

Wawrinka lost the ground and dropped his fifth game in a row after Rublev's forehand crosscourt winner in game seven. Stan served to stay in the match at 2-5 and fired a forehand down the line winner to grab a break and prolong the action.

Wawrinka held for 4-5, and Rublev served for the match in game ten. Andrey made no mistakes this time and landed a service winner for a hold at love and a place in the third round.