Reigning tournament champion, Félix Auger-Aliassime booked his ticket to the semi-finals in Basel, with a 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-6 (1) victory over Alexander Shevchenko, Friday.
The 19e world racket defeated his opponent in two hours 36 minutes. The two rounds won by the Quebecer lasted one hour and one minute.
Auger-Aliassime had an impressive total of 16 aces in the match, compared to eight on Shevchenko’s side, 83e in the world.
Shevchenko broke the Quebecer’s serve in the first game of the third set, to lead 2-0 by confirming his break. Auger-Aliassime, however, won the next three games to return to equal service.
At 4-4, Auger-Aliassime saw his opponent break him once again. However, he saved his skin by doing the same on the next play.
The Quebecer gave no chance in the tiebreaker of the third set, winning the first six points of it, before ending the match on his second match point.
Despite the victory, Shevchenko won 51% of the points, or 107 of the 208 contested in the match.
In the semi-final on Saturday, Auger-Aliassime will face tournament favorite and sixth-ranked player in the world Holger Rune. The Quebecer beat Rune in the final last year, in two sets of 6-3 and 7-5.