Félix Auger-Aliassime captured his first career ATP Tour title on Sunday by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 at the Rotterdam tournament in the Netherlands .
Posted at 10:58 a.m.
Updated at 11:11 a.m.
The Quebecer had a lot to do to get the upper hand over the Greek. On the one hand, because Tsitsipas is ranked fourth in the world. On the other hand, because Auger-Aliassime had lost in their last five clashes. Then, because the 21-year-old had lost the eight finals in which he had participated in his career.
Auger-Aliassime started the match with aplomb, breaking his opponent in the first game. The Quebecer was smoking and efficient throughout the round, offering very high quality tennis. He ended up winning the first set 6-4, winning 100% of his points on the first serve. With in particular four aces, unlike zero for Tsitsipas, it is this facet of the game that gave momentum to the Quebecer.
PHOTO PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW, REUTERS
Felix Auger-Aliassime and Stefanos Tsitsipas
The second run started identically to the first. Auger-Aliassime broke his opponent, who couldn’t even make a single point. Although he was visibly affected by the turn of events and lacking resources given the way his opponent played, Tsitsipas still resisted two break points in the third game of the set. Auger-Aliassime recovered two games later by breaking the service of the fourth player in the world.
At 1-5, Tsitsipas was backed up against the wall, but he served well, with fresh balls, to survive and to make the meeting last.
Nevertheless, Auger-Aliassime took advantage of his great day on serve to eventually win the set 6-2.
Auger-Aliassime managed to win the final in just over an hour of play to secure his first career title.
A good start to the year
Félix Auger-Aliassime is having a smashing start to the season. In January, he helped Canada win their first ever ATP Cup title.
A few days later, he lost in the quarter-finals at the Australian Open against Danill Medvedev, the second player in the world, in an anthology match that could well have turned in his favor.
He also climbed to ninth in the world, a personal high.
This week, he triumphed in Rotterdam to end a nasty streak in the final. To achieve this, he beat Egor Gerasimov, grand slam champion Andy Murray, Cameron Norrie (6), and Andrey Rublev (2).