Felix Fights Into Antwerp SFs

Still riding high from his title last week in Florence, Felix Auger-Aliassime moved within two wins of a repeat run in Stockholm on Friday. But the second-seeded Canadian needed to dig deep to fend off Daniel Evans 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 in a two-hour, 40-minute match that concluded after midnight at the European Open.

“It was a really high-quality match from both of us and I couldn’t regret too much, or anything really, in the first set. He just played a bit too good,” the Canadian said post-match. “Then I started serving better, I was able to hold my serve a little bit easier, so that of course helped.

“From the tie-break and the third set, it was a great finish from me. I’m really happy I made the effort to dig deep and push hard until the end.”

The victory further secured Auger-Aliassime’s seventh-place position in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race to Turin, as the Canadian strives to clinch what may be the final qualification spot for this year’s Nitto ATP Finals. With 3,065 points, he now holds a 180-point lead over Tokyo champion Taylor Fritz in eighth place.

After the aggressive Evans claimed the opening set by winning its lone break point early on, the Briton fended off three break chances midway through the second to set up the crucial tie-break. The late stages of the set were dominated by the server, and that continued in the tie-break, in which Auger-Aliassime won all five points on his delivery.

Evans continued to attack and brought up deuce on return while leading 1-0, but he would never create a second break point. Instead, Auger-Aliassime finally converted on his sixth break opportunity and again on his seventh to put the match beyond doubt.

Seeking the third tour-level title of this season and his career, Auger-Aliassime will look to extend his six-match winning streak when he meets Richard Gasquet in the semi-finals. The Frenchman was a  6-2, 7-6(6) winer against David Goffin earlier on Friday night as he advanced to his second ATP Tour semi-final of 2022 (Geneva) and his first on hard courts since Sofia in 2020.