Gael Monfils Withdraws from Madrid Open Due to Illness

Madrid, Spain — Gael Monfils withdrew from his scheduled second-round match against Andrey Rublev at the 2025 Madrid Masters on Friday due to illness. The announcement came just hours before the match was to take place at the Caja Mágica, leaving Rublev to advance to the third round without playing.

Monfils, who is ranked No. 42 in the world, shared the disappointing news with his fans via Snapchat, saying, “Unfortunately, I had to withdraw from the tournament. I hope it will get better soon, I’ll give you news very soon.” His withdrawal was unexpected, especially after he made a strong comeback in the first round, defeating Borna Gojo in three sets.

Rublev, the No. 7 seed and defending champion, is now set to face Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik in the next round. Rublev has a 5-2 lead against Bublik in their previous matchups, and they will meet on clay for the first time.

The 27-year-old Rublev holds an 11-9 season record. His 2025 campaign includes a title run in Doha, and he aims to improve his standing in the ATP rankings.

With Monfils out, Rublev’s journey in the tournament appears more manageable as he pursues another Masters 1000 title in Madrid.