Three-time ATP Tour finalist Felix Auger Aliassime beat Pablo Carreno Busta 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 after 1 hour and 49 minutes in the semifinal of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam to advance to the second ATP 500 final of his career almost 12 months after reaching his first tour-level final in Rio de Janeiro.
Auger Aliassime has become the first Canadian player to reach the final in Rotterdam.
The Canadian Next Gen player fended off the first two break points of the match at 5-5, Auger Aliassime raced out to a 4-0 lead in the tie-break and closed out the opening set with a serve out wide.
Auger Aliassime broke serve with his forehand in a marathon third game. He saved a break point at 4-3 with a backhand winner before sealing the win with his 16th ace.
“The first set was really tight with both of us serving well. I was serving the best I have ever served in that first set and then played a solid tie-break. In the second set, things got interesting with that long third game. Things got a bit difficult, saving that break point after making some tight mistakes. It was not easy. I came up clutch again, so obviously I am happy with myself”, said Auger Aliassime.
Auger Aliassime is bidding to reach his first ATP Tour title after reaching three finals in Rio de Janeiro, Lyon and Stuttgart.
Auger Aliassime set up a final against Gael Monfils, who beat Filip Krajinovic 6-4 7-6 (7-5). It will be the first head-to-head clash between Monfils and Auger Aliassime. Monfils has reached the final in each of his three most recent appearances at the Rotterdam tournament.
Both players went on serve with no break points in the first nine games. Krajinovic fended off two set points, but he faced a third chance when he made a double fault. Monfils got his only break with a lob.
Both players traded breaks early in the second set. Monfils did not convert four match points at 5-4. Monfils reeled off three points from 4-4 to close out the match with his 14th ace.
