Felix Fends Off Huesler In Basel

Felix Auger-Aliassime hit a new milestone Wednesday at the Swiss Indoors Basel, where he defeated Marc-Andrea Huesler for his personal-best ninth consecutive tour-level win. Yet the Canadian was pushed all the way for his 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-4 victory.

Huesler strung together a series of high-class points to charge to the first-set tie-break in his maiden tour-level meeting with Auger-Aliassime. As the vocal home crowd cheered on the Swiss and his big-serving lefty game, the third seed had to remain dialled in to clinch the sole breaks of the second and third sets and earn a two-hour, 18-minute first-round triumph.

“I think matches like this are tougher mentally, in a way,” said Auger-Aliassime in his on-court interview. “Playing indoors, quick points, both of us serving really well. You need to stay locked in and focused for two hours… If you are able to seize one opportunity, you take a break.

“I was able to serve it out well at the end. It was tough to keep my focus, he was serving great, and being really aggressive. Not an easy match, but really happy to get through.”

FAA makes it through in Basel! 🔥

The number 3 seed defeats Marc-Andrea Huesler 6-7 6-4 6-4.#SwissIndoorsBasel pic.twitter.com/CT2IGqVHw6

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 26, 2022

Auger-Aliassime’s nine victories in a row have propelled the 22-year-old into a strong position as he seeks to qualify for November’s Nitto ATP Finals for the first time. Currently seventh in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin, the Canadian is chasing his third ATP Tour title in as many weeks following his wins in Florence and Antwerp.

Auger-Aliassime next takes on a familiar face in Miomir Kecmanovic. He trails the Serbian 1-2 in the pair’s ATP Head2Head series, but won their most recent meeting in September in the Davis Cup.

“We are around the same age, and we have played each other since we were juniors,” said Auger-Aliassime of Kecmanovic. “The [whole] record is more than three matches, so we know each other really well. It’s always been tough matches for my part.

“I was able to get the win last time, but he’s a very complete player. He moves well, he’s explosive and has a great forehand and backhand. He can do anything, from cross-court, down the line, mix it up really well. He’s serving better and better, so I’ll see. It’s not going to be an easy one.”