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For the primary time since 2018, Félix Auger-Aliassime didn’t advance to the ultimate of his first grass-court event of the yr as he was upset by Dutch wildcard Tim van Rijthoven in a three-set semi-final on the Libema Open.
The Dutchman, who’s competing in his first tour-level occasion since 2016, was capable of match the world No. 9 serve-for-serve and survived a mid-match surge from Auger-Aliassime, hanging on for a 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(5) victory.
Van Rijthoven’s serve proved an excessive amount of for Auger-Aliassime, who solely had three break factors within the match. The primary serve stored the Canadian within the match, as he received 83 % of these factors however solely 54 % of his second serve factors.
There was little or no between the 2 males early within the match because the servers cruised, combining to lose simply three factors within the first 5 service video games.
It was Auger-Aliassime who blinked first, struggling within the sixth sport and sending a forehand lengthy on what proved to be the lone break level of the opening set to provide van Rijthoven the one break he wanted to take the opening set.
Auger-Aliassime rapidly turned issues round within the second set, seemingly determining the Dutchman’s function he broke twice as a part of a five-game run from 1-1 to ship the match to a deciding set. The Canadian received 50 % of his opponent’s service factors within the second set, whereas solely dropping six on his personal supply.
Van Rijthoven refound his serving rhythm within the third set and rapidly squashed his opponent’s momentum. Twice within the set Auger-Aliassime discovered himself down love-40 on his personal serve and received 5 straight factors to carry, however he did not create a single break level in opposition to his opponent’s serve.
One level in the end determined the match. Within the third-set tiebreak, tied at 3-all, van Rijthoven ripped a forehand out broad, drawing an error from the Canadian to take the minibreak. It could be the one level to go in opposition to serve within the breaker because the Dutchman transformed his third match level, after Auger-Aliassime saved two on his personal serve, to achieve his first ATP remaining.
Auger-Aliassime will compete subsequent week in Halle. He reached the semi-finals final yr, beating Roger Federer on route.
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