Felix Auger-Aliassime hasn’t had the best time on the tour this year. He started the season well by winning the Adelaide International. However, post that he endured a horror run, including seven first round exits. Five of those came during the clay season, and the Canadian certainly didn’t enjoy his time on the dirt. He though has started his grass venture in fine fashion, with convincing performances that have put him in the semifinals in Stuttgart.
Felix Auger-Aliassime beats Engel in straight sets
The Canadian, in his journey to the semifinals in Stuttgart, beat young German sensation Justin Engel in the quarterfinals. The 17-year-old German recently became the second youngest player post-1990 to win a match on each of the three surfaces at the ATP level–the youngest being Rafael Nadal. However, his dream run at the BOSS Open came to an end after Auger-Aliassime beat him in straight sets.
The first set was a neck-and-neck one with both players doing well to hold serve forcing it to go into a tiebreak. The Canadian stepped up his game from there on and sealed the breaker 7-3. He then wasn’t going to let his level drop as an early break of serve meant that he was in the driver’s seat. The final score read in favor of the Canadian 7-6 6-3.
It’s an ideal start to the grass season for Auger-Aliassime after poor outings on hard and clay surfaces. The much anticipated question, though, is can he continue this good form. Auger-Aliassime will next face American and second seed Taylor Fritz. It won’t be an easy encounter for the Canadian. Keeping his inconsistencies in mind in recent times, the odds will be in favor of Fritz. However, it is very important for Auger-Aliassime to turn the tables here as the promise he came with as a youngster is fading away a little every year.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
