Grigor Dimitrov ousts top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz in the Miami Open quarterfinals

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Eleventh-seeded Grigor Dimitrov came out strong against top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz on Thursday night and went on to win 6-2, 6-4 in the Miami Open quarterfinals, his first victory over a top-five player in nearly five years.

Fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev, who beat unseeded Fabian Marozsan 6-3, 7-5, will play Dimitrov in the semifinals Friday. Second-seeded Jannik Sinner will face No. 3 Daniil Medvedev in the other semifinal, a rematch of last year’s final that Medvedev won.

Dimitrov said he didn't want to evaluate the quality of his play against Alcaraz “since I have to play again tomorrow. I’m trying to stay on point. This is how our sport is. You appreciate it, of course. You’re very happy with the current win. Then you have to quickly move on and start focusing on the next match.”

Alcaraz, the 2022 champion, entered this tournament off a victory over Medvedev at Indian Wells. But the world's second-ranked player had trouble finding his game against Dimitrov and became visibly frustrated numerous times in the first set.

But Alcaraz didn't go away even after falling behind a break at 4-2 in the second set. He broke Dimitrov at love and then held serve to even the set at 4-4. Dimitrov, though, won the final two games, breaking Alcaraz in the clincher.

Alacaraz said Dimitrov played “almost perfect.”

“I have a lot of frustrations right now because he made me feel like I’m 13 years old,” the 20-year-old Alcaraz said. “It was crazy. I was talking to my team saying that I don’t know what I have to do. I don’t know his weakness. I don’t know anything.”

This was Dimitrov's first victory over a top-five player since he beat then-No. 3 Roger Federer in the quarterfinals of the 2019 U.S. Open.

On the women's side, fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina once again had to go three sets, pushed to the edge before beating No. 27 Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 0-6, 7-6 (2) in the semifinals.

Rybakina, ranked fourth on the WTA Tour, will on Saturday face unseeded Danielle Collins, who defeated No. 14 Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-2. Rybakina also made last year's final, losing in straight sets to Petra Kvitová.

“This year, it’s much different,” Rybakina said. “I was not expecting, honestly, to be in the final because I was not prepared that well for this tournament, but really happy that I managed to battle through all these matches and be in the final again.”

A day off will likely be welcome for Rybakina, who has been pushed to three sets in all but one match this tournament. Thursday’s match lasted 2 hours, 33 minutes, and she told the Tennis Channel that for the first time in her career, she has rested on the days between matches during a tournament.

“In the beginning, these long matches were helping me to get back in shape,” Rybakina said. “Now I’m not in shape just because I’m tired of all these long matches, but overall, it was really successful tournament no matter how I do in the final.”

Rybakina appeared to take control when she broke Azarenka's serve to take a 3-2 lead in the third set. Azarenka fought off four break points before hitting a two-handed backhand into the net to give Rybakina the game.

It was quite a response from the second set when Azarenka lost only two points on her serve, and one came on a double fault.

But Azarenka wasn't done. With Rybakina serving for the match, Azarenka broke back to even the final set at 5-5. Both players then held serve to send the match to a tiebreaker, which belonged to Rybakina, who went up 6-1. She wrapped up the victory with a cross-court forehand.

Rybakina is seeking her third title this year. She is 4-0 in her career against Azarenka, including two victories this year.

Azarenka, 34, was attempting to become the tournament's oldest winner. She became the second-oldest semifinalist; 36-year-old Venus Williams made the semis in 2017.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain returns the ball to Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria during the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria returns the ball to Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain greet each other at the end of their match during the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Dimitrov defeated Alcaraz. 6-2, 6-4. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria celebrates after defeating Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, hits a return to Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, during a quarterfinal match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, hits a return to Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, during a quarterfinal match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, reacts after winning a point against Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, during a quarterfinal match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, hits a return to Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, during a quarterfinal match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, right, shakes hands with Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, left, after winning their quarterfinal match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, reacts after defeating Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, during a quarterfinal match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

MADRID (AP) — Despite sleepless nights struggling with a fever, Andrey Rublev found a way to fight back and win the Madrid Open for the first time.

Rublev was feeling sick all week but rallied to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in three sets on Sunday and clinch his second Masters 1000 title.

Rublev won 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 after Auger-Aliassime double-faulted on the last point of the final at the clay-court tournament in the Spanish capital.

“I would say this is the most proud title of my career,” Rublev said. “I was almost dead every day. I was not sleeping at night. The last three, four days I didn’t sleep.”

Rublev gave “full credit to the doctors,” who were “doing some tricky things” just to make sure he could play.

“I have no words," the eighth-ranked Rublev said. “If you knew what I had been through in the past nine days you would not imagine that I would be able to win a title.”

The 26-year-old Russian won his first Masters 1000 title at Monte Carlo last year. Auger-Aliassime was playing in his first final at this level.

Rublev entered Madrid on a four-match losing streak after early exits at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Barcelona. One of his victories in Madrid came in the quarterfinals against home-crowd favorite Carlos Alcaraz.

He now has 16 career titles, and two this season after Hong Kong in January. He had arrived with a 5-1 record against Auger-Aliassime, including a win in their sole matchup on clay.

Auger-Aliassime's path to the final saw second-ranked Jannik Sinner withdraw because of an injury ahead of the quarterfinals, and Jiri Lehecka retired against the Canadian in the first set of the semifinals.

Other injuries hit the men's draw in Madrid, starting with Novak Djokovic's withdrawal before the tournament. Daniil Medvedev retired in the quarterfinals, while Alcaraz was hampered by a sore right arm and Rafael Nadal bowed out of what was likely his last appearance in his home country.

Iga Swiatek won the women's title for the first time in her career on Saturday.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Andrey Rublev, of Russia, right, holds his trophy after winning against Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, left, in the Madrid Open men's final match in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Andrey Rublev, of Russia holds his trophy after winning against Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, in the Madrid Open men's final match in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Andrey Rublev, of Russia holds his trophy after winning against Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, in the Madrid Open men's final match in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, holds his trophy after loosing against Andrey Rublev, of Russia, in he Madrid Open men's final match in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Andrey Rublev, of Russia kisses his trophy after winning against Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, in the Madrid Open men's final match in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Andrey Rublev, of Russia holds his trophy after winning against Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, in the Madrid Open men's final match in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, competes against to Andrey Rublev, of Russia, during the final match of the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Andrey Rublev, of Russia, competes against Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, during the final match of the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, competes against to Andrey Rublev, of Russia, during the final match of the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, competes against to Andrey Rublev, of Russia, during the final match of the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, reacts during a final match against Andrey Rublev, of Russia, at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, reacts during a final match against Andrey Rublev, of Russia, at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Andrey Rublev, of Russia, returns the ball to Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, during the final match of the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Andrey Rublev, of Russia, celebrates after winning the final match against Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Andrey Rublev, of Russia, celebrates after winning the final match against Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Andrey Rublev, of Russia, celebrates after winning the final match against Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)