Montreal’s Félix Auger-Aliassime took the honors of the Florence tennis tournament on Sunday with a 6-4, 6-4 straight-set victory over American JJ Wolf.
Thirteenth player in the world and first seed of the tournament, Auger-Aliassime collected a second career title, after that won at the Rotterdam Open against the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas on February 13th.
Against a rival he was facing for the first time as a professional and who was playing in a first final on the ATP Tour, Auger-Aliassime offered another solid service performance, especially in the second set.
In this second set, Auger-Aliassime did not commit any double faults and hit seven of his 11 aces, including two in the final game. Sound 11e as has also ended the duel after one hour 41 minutes of action.
Auger-Aliassime also hit 67 percent of his first serves in the second set and won 16 of 18 points after slotting his first serve. Wolf won just seven points on the Quebecer’s serve in the second set.
In the whole match, Auger-Aliassime faced only one break point, which he could not save, however, in the second game of the clash, and committed a single double fault.
The duel began with three service breaks in as many games, including two by the Quebecer.
From this point in the first set, Auger-Aliassime and Wolf were adamant on serve except in the seventh game. The 23-year-old American, 75e world player, then had to save three break points to remain at the height of the fight of this initial set.
Auger-Aliassime completed the first set in 47 minutes when Wolf tried a backhand shot across the way, on a second serve, which landed in the hallway.
The Montrealer started the second set with authority and gave himself two break chances from the opening game, which Wolf however managed to erase.
Four games later, Auger-Aliassime took the lead for good by stealing his opponent’s serve without him scoring a single point.
The Quebecer consolidated this break with aplomb by winning the next game, again, without conceding a single point.
Auger-Aliassime was then in control of the match and he held on without ever really being threatened.
Auger-Aliassime took part in an 11e career final and a third in 2022.
A week after his triumph in Rotterdam, he managed to make it to the final match in Marseille, but lost in straight sets to Andrey Rublev.