Different city, but same Félix Auger-Aliassime as he returns to the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open final after beating Belgian wildcard Raphael Collignon 7-6(2), 6-4 in Brussels on Saturday.
Auger-Aliassime last reached the final in 2022, winning the title when the tournament was held in Antwerp.
The Canadian dealt with a passionate Belgian crowd in the opener, managing three mini-breaks in the tiebreak to power him to comfortably take the set. Auger-Aliassime’s lone break came in the second, after previously failing to convert on two. The Montrealer didn’t face a break point in the match and finished with eight aces.
Collignon’s strong service display to start the match was met by a passionate home crowd. The world No. 90 dropped just two points over his first three service games, firing three aces in the process.
At 4-4, 40-love, the Belgian No. 2 rallied to force deuce, bringing the Belgian faithful to their feet, but Auger-Aliassime kept his cool and held to put the pressure on Collignon to extend the set.
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The Canadian No. 1 held a break and set point in the ensuing game, which he failed to convert on as the Belgian eventually evened the set at 5-5.
In the eventual tiebreak, Auger-Aliassime managed a mini-break right before the changeover to lead 4-2. After the change of sides, Collignon committed a double fault, allowing the Canuck to serve out the opener. At 5-2, Auger-Aliassime hit two-straight winners to take the tight first set.
The Montrealer was in the driver’s seat to begin the second, winning eight-straight service points then holding a break point at 2-2, 30-40. Auger-Aliassime’s return was too much for Collignon as the world No. 13 was up a break in the set.
The Canadian cruised to a pair of holds and was just one game away from booking his spot in the final. At 5-4, Collignon and the Belgian crowd put the pressure on Auger-Aliassime to serve out the match but, at 40-love, he capped off the semifinal tilt with his 31st winner.
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World No. 17 Jiri Lehecka awaits the Montreal-native in the battle for the title on Sunday.
-Francesco
Shapovalov Eliminated by Ruud in Stockholm Semis
Denis Shapovalov was unsuccessful in his attempt to reach a third ATP final this season as he lost to Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-4 in the Stockholm Open semifinal on Saturday afternoon.
The world No. 12 will now advance to take on Ugo Humbert in the final. The Frenchman moved past Holger Rune after the Danish star sustained a foot injury in the second set of the day's first semifinal, forcing him to retire while up 6-4, 2-2 in the match.
Shapovalov lost momentum early as he handed Ruud the first break of the match by double-faulting twice in his second service game, giving the Norwegian a 3-1 lead in the first set. The Canadian broke back to regain some momentum, but Ruud answered with his second break of the day to take full control of the match. The former world No. 2 would easily finish off the set on serve, holding at love to take the first 6-3.
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Ruud forced his fifth break point of the match as he looked to take control early in the second set, but Shapovalov was able to fight it off and earn the hold to go up 2-1 in the second. The two would go back and forth and put on a display of excellent shot-making as neither could gain the upper hand.
Shapovalov found his serve in the second set, as he drilled four aces over the first six games. However, it was Ruud who would come through with the first break of the set by fighting off a pair of game points to go up 4-3 and put Shapovalov on the ropes. Shapovalov would give himself a chance to come back with a confident service hold. With Ruud serving for the match, Shapovalov would fight off triple match point to force a deuce, but Ruud would not let him come any closer, finishing off the set and the match without any further trouble.
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The Norwegian is now off to his third final of the season in search of his second title of 2025.
Ruud is now 3-1 in head-to-head matchups against Shapovalov in their careers and gets a measure of revenge after falling to the Canadian in the Dallas Open final in February.
-Jonathan
Photo Credit: Martin Sidorjak
