On Sunday in Rotterdam, 21-year-old Felix Auger-Aliassime may do no mistaken.
The third seed and world No. 9 from Canada dismantled prime seed and world No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-2 in a single hour and 18 minutes to win the ABN Amro World Tennis Event.
Within the first recreation, Auger-Aliassime had a great begin, breaking Tsistsipas by dashing him with highly effective forehands off the return.
Within the second set, 4-1, 15-love, he discovered the road on an inside-in forehand winner.
Within the second set, 5-1, first level, he was jammed returning the primary serve, however nonetheless managed to hit a winner crosscourt with an inside-out backhand.
Within the second set, 5-2, first level, he hit a backhand open stance down-the-line winner off Tsitsipas’s method. The Greek took an extended look in disbelief.
The Canadian then held at like to win his first ATP Tour title, after arising quick in eight earlier finals.
Celebrating, he held his arms up, bowed to the bottom, dropped his racquet. He then shook Tsitsipas’s hand and the umpire’s hand. Lastly, roaring, he leapt into the air with a fist pump, earlier than hugging his mom and coach and Facetiming along with his father, who’s a coach again in Quebec.
In his press convention after the match, Auger-Aliassime stated: “I performed one in all my greatest matches this week, in all probability. Couldn’t have requested for a greater method to win the title, particularly in opposition to a participant like Stefanos, to have the ability to win comfortably in a manner with the rating, and to have the ability to serve that properly and to dominate.
“It was a particular match, for positive, one which I’ll bear in mind for a very long time. And to get my first title with that. It’s a big day for me, one thing that I’ve been desirous about and dealing in direction of for some time now, for the final couple of years since I’m on the tour. And now lastly the day comes. It’s absolutely probably the most big day in my profession.”
In his press convention after the match, Tsitsipas stated: “He was taking part in superb tennis. He was capable of produce some good pictures and serving extremely properly all through the entire match. I wasn’t capable of reply.
“I simply felt mentally drained. I wasn’t capable of serve properly in any respect immediately. My percentages have been so low. I really feel like I performed a number of tennis this week, and it sort of got here out in that match.
“To not take something away from him. He performed very properly. He didn’t actually give me something to combat again.”
Auger-Aliassime stated: “I feel trying again in my profession, I feel Rotterdam will at all times have a particular place. You understand, there’s just one first title. And it got here right here. Truly, I’ve had an incredible relationship with the match, with the followers right here. I performed my first ATP essential draw right here, so it’s a sort of a particular story that I’ll have the ability to have for me.
“It’s a giant aid, greater than something. In fact, I’m blissful. However I feel that the aid is even greater. Simply because, I imply, I heard about it many instances, belief me. And it’s not straightforward. You understand, it’s not straightforward. I’m human in spite of everything. I’m like all of you guys. I stay the identical feelings that everyone does. I’ve doubts, I’ve fears at instances. I stress, like all people. However I attempt to do my greatest.
“So positively now it’s only a large aid to not have to listen to about these finals anymore. About not successful a title. For positive, I feel on prime of every part, it’s the largest factor. It’s the aid that I can have now. Now I can simply play much more freely in the case of these final matches within the match, these finals sooner or later. I may even free myself much more, I suppose.”
