'Almost dead ' Rublev triumphs in Madrid

Andrey Rublev won the Madrid Open with a hard-fought 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory over Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime even as he battled illness.

The world No 8 said he was "almost dead every day" and hailed his doctors for helping him.

"If you knew what I had been through you would not imagine that I would be able to win a title," Rublev said. "The last three, four days I didn't sleep."

The Russian also needed an anesthetic to play, as his toe was "inflamed."

Rublev had lost four consecutive matches before arriving in Spain. The 26-year-old triumphed at the Hong Kong Open in January but has struggled since.