Felix Ousts Norrie to Reach Rotterdam SFs
The Felix Auger-Aliassime title charge is building in Rotterdam.
The 21-year-old Canadian took another step towards a first ATP Tour title with a hard-fought 7-5, 7-6(4) win over Cameron Norrie in the quarter-finals of the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament on Friday.
Third seed Auger-Aliassime produced a solid performance over two hours and seven minutes, coming back from a break down in the second set to reach the semi-finals in Rotterdam for the second time.
[FOLLOW ACTION]After an even start a loose game from Norrie gave Auger-Aliassime a break for 5-3, but the young Canadian immediately let the Brit back in with three double-faults to hand Norrie a break of his own.
Auger-Aliassime recovered from the lapse well, breaking again to take the first set as Norrie struggled to deal with his opponent’s crushing forehand.
BNP Paribas Open champion Norrie entered Rotterdam on a five-match losing streak, a run which included a straight-sets defeat to Auger-Aliassime at the ATP Cup in January. The Brit had impressed in wins over Ugo Humbert and Karen Khachanov to reach the quarter-finals, however, and he showed those same qualities to fight his way to a 4-2 lead in the second set.
The greater power of the Canadian gradually began to tell as he roared back with some strong baseline hitting and to seal victory in a tie-break. The World No. 9 used his big weapons effectively throughout, ending with 46 winners to Norrie’s 14.
Auger-Aliassime’s semi-final opponent will be the winner of the night match between Marton Fucsovics and second seed Andrey Rublev.