Andrey Rublev dominated the double-defending Madrid Open champion Carlos Alcaraz in a stunning fightback to move into the semi-finals.
The victory sets up a last-four battle with either Taylor Fritz or Francisco Cerundolo for a spot in Sunday’s final up for grabs.
Rublev earned the first break point of the match and the chance to take a two-game lead in the opener but missed the early opportunity to take advantage when he fired an effort into the net.
Alcaraz took his chance to level with a brilliant cross-court effort and following holds from both players, made the first breakthrough for 3-2 when Hawkeye ruled out Rublev’s long effort.
The defending champion extended his advantage to build a two-game buffer with an excellent drop shot, as the Spanish crowd roared the 20-year-old on at the Caja Magica.
In under a minute, Rublev rapidly moved 40-0 ahead in the following game after an error-strewn string of points from Alcaraz as the Russian held to love with a strong forehand.
But Alcaraz restored his two-game lead and although the set ended tightly when Rublev fought off a set point in the ninth game, struggled to prevent Alcaraz from sealing the opener as the Wimbledon champion took the lead inside 41 minutes.
Rublev started the second set much stronger and held to love in the opening game before racing 40-0 ahead in the next, but Alcaraz saved three break points to claw his way to deuce.
Despite the fightback, Alcaraz became frustrated as he went well wide and Rublev punished the two-time Grand Slam champion to go a couple of games ahead and pile the pressure on.
Rublev found himself a break point down but held when Alcaraz went long to move three games ahead and take complete control of the second set.
Alcaraz finally got on the board when he returned Rublev’s drop shot with a clinical cross-court effort before the latter went wide for 3-1.
However, Rublev seemed unfazed by the brilliant game from Alcaraz and built a 40-0 lead again as he held for love once more and began to run away with the set.
Alcaraz bounced back exceptionally in the following game after falling 40-0 behind for the fourth time in a dominant set from Rublev, battling past three break points as Rublev went into the net.
With relief for Alcaraz and the gap closed to two games at 4-2, the world No. 3 had the chance for a crucial break but went wide with both chances as Rublev sealed a huge hold to move one step closer to equalising.
Two games later at 5-3, Rublev earned three set points for the fifth time in the set and nailed the second to take the match to a decider.
The momentum stuck with Rublev in the third set as he broke Alcaraz in the opening game to capitalise on the early domination for the second set in a row.
Rublev moved two games ahead and denied Alcaraz the chance to find his way back into the set before he produced another crucial break for 4-1.
The 26-year-old continued his stunning form as he began to dismantle the double-reigning champion to move 5-1 ahead and earn himself the chance to serve for the match.
Alcaraz held the following game, but the damage was already done as the Russian found his way past Alcaraz 40-15 in the final game to conclude the upset and earn his place in the last four.