Félix Auger-Aliassime couldn’t get his hands on a second-straight trophy as Alex de Minaur won Sunday’s ABN AMRO Open final 6-3, 6-2, in the Aussie’s third consecutive trip to the title match in Rotterdam.
This was de Minaur’s first hard-court win against Auger-Aliassime in four meetings on the concrete.
The Canadian No. 1 was unable to take control of either set as he didn’t hold a single break point. Auger-Aliassime wasn’t at his best on serve, making less than half of his first serves and saving just two of five break opportunities.
In the opening set alone, Auger-Aliassime’s delivery was under its biggest wave of pressure of the week. After saving break point in the second game, the Canadian had to deal with two more at 2-3, 15-40, managing to save one before he was broken for the first time in Rotterdam on the second attempt. The three break points were already the most Auger-Aliassime had faced in the event.
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De Minaur went on to hold the rest of the way to clinch the opener and kept on piling the pressure to start the second. At 2-2, the Australian won eight-straight points on return, securing back-to-back breaks to serve for the match.
At 5-2, 40-15, de Minaur sealed his place in the winner’s circle with his only ace of the match to hoist his 11th ATP trophy.
Auger-Aliassime’s win streak ended at eight matches following back-to-back finals runs, winning the title in Montpellier last week.
Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak
