(Marseille) Quebecer Félix Auger-Aliassime will have the chance to win a second tournament in as many weeks on Sunday when he participates in the final of the ATP 250 tournament in Marseille.
Posted at 2:16 p.m.
Auger-Aliassime had to work hard, but he finally defeated the Russian Roman Safiullin, coming from the qualifications, in two sets of 7-6 (4) and 7-6 (5) in the semi-finals on Saturday.
The 21-year-old Montrealer needed 2:27 to overcome Safiullin, who had eliminated the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, favorite of the tournament, in the quarterfinals.
Auger-Aliassime had 15 aces and saved six of eight break points in the duel. He also broke Safiullin’s serve twice, in addition to winning 79% of his points on the first serve.
Seeded third in the tournament, Auger-Aliassime will face second-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev in the final on Sunday.
The two players crossed swords last week in the semi-finals of the Rotterdam tournament. The Quebecer prevailed in three sets of 6-7 (5), 6-4 and 6-2, before defeating Tsitsipas in the final to clinch his first singles title on the ATP Tour.
Auger-Aliassime had lost the first two clashes of his career against Rublev.