For the second time in as many weeks, Félix Auger-Aliassime booked a spot in an ATP Tour-level remaining, this time on the Open 13 Provence. The Canadian gained his first profession singles title final week on the ABN Amro World Tennis Event and was nonetheless hungry for extra, taking down Roman Safiullin 7-6(4), 7-6(5) within the Marseille semi-finals.
At the moment’s bout was the primary singles assembly between Auger-Aliassime and Safiullin, the 24-year-old Russian who’s taking part in at a a lot larger stage than his rating (No. 163) signifies. The 2 did face off in doubles on the ATP Cup in January – Auger-Aliassime profitable the match 4-6, 7-5, 10-7 alongside compatriot Denis Shapovalov.
Along with his victory towards Safiullin this afternoon, Auger-Aliassime advances to his tenth singles finals and his second on the Open 13 Provence. He’ll face Andrey Rublev for the title on Sunday as he appears so as to add one other crown to his trophy case.
The opening set was anybody’s recreation, as each gamers had two breaks of serve and it required a tiebreak. Safiullin had the stronger begin within the tiebreaker, however Auger-Aliassime rapidly turned issues round, profitable six straight factors, to take the set by a rating of 7-6(4).
The difference-maker within the first set was Auger-Aliassime’s capacity to reap the benefits of Safiullin’s second serves. The Canadian was 11/11 on his second-serve return factors.
The second set was extra simple and had much less drama than the primary. Auger-Aliassime and Safiullin cruised by their early service video games, up till the eighth recreation when the Russian was pressured to show apart 4 break level alternatives. Moreover that, there weren’t every other alternatives to interrupt serve within the set, sending it to a different tiebreak.
This time round it was the Canadian who had the higher begin to the tiebreak, dashing his solution to a 4-1 lead. Safiullin obtained a mini-break again, nevertheless, Auger-Aliassime saved making use of the strain and clinched the victory on his first match level.
Auger-Aliassime’s file in 2022 is now 15-3. Unbelievable!
