Félix Auger-Aliassime will return to the ABN AMRO Open semifinals for the first time since 2022, the same edition he won his first of nine ATP titles.
The Canadian No. 1 defeated home favourite Tallon Griekspoor 7-6(2), 6-2 in the quarter-finals on Friday for his 15th win in Rotterdam. Auger-Aliassime also extended his win streak to seven matches following his triumph in Montpellier.
The Canuck’s first delivery powered him to the straight-sets victory, winning 92 per cent of his first-serve points. On return, Auger-Aliassime finally got a hold of Griekspoor’s serve in the second set, converting on two of five break points en route to sealing the contest in under two hours.
Auger-Aliassime had to work his way out of some tricky service games to start the match. The world No. 6 spent over 20 minutes on serve through the first two games on his delivery, saving a break point over that span as the match remained level.
Griekspoor kept stress-free on serve. At 1-2, love-15, the Dutch won 12-straight service points, bringing the set to 4-4. However, when serving to extend the opener, the 29-year-old faced his first bit of pressure at 4-5, 30-40, fending off break point and eventually holding after some double fault trouble.
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In the tiebreaker, a double mini-break put Auger-Aliassime in the driver’s seat, owning four set points at 6-2. The Montrealer capped off the opener with his sixth ace as he stayed perfect on his delivery in the tiebreak.
Auger-Aliassime opened the second set with the match’s first break, coupling it with a comfortable hold to take a 2-0 lead.
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The Canadian nearly added to his advantage, holding three break points across the third and fifth game, but he would later capitalize at 2-4, 15-40, allowing the 25-year-old to serve for the match. At 5-2, 40-15, Auger-Aliassime put away Griekspoor’s return, clinching his place into the final four in Rotterdam where he will meet either Alexander Bublik or Jaume Munar on Saturday.
Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak
