One set separated Felix Auger-Aliassime from the primary out of doors title of his profession.
Amid third-set stress, Auger-Aliassime wasn’t prepared to play the ready recreation.
Auger-Aliassime received 16 of 17 factors performed on his serve within the remaining set charging previous Sebastian Korda 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to seize his sixth profession title on the Adelaide Worldwide.
It’s the 24-year-old Canadian’s first profession out of doors title and first Tour-level crown since he efficiently defended Basel in 2023.
“It feels nice, any title feels superb,” mentioned Auger-Aliassime, who was 0-8 in Tour-level finals earlier than profitable the 2022 Rotterdam title. “I had my share of problem to win titles to start with of my profession, and now, you understand, each title means rather a lot. It’s been additionally a tricky couple of final months, however, yeah, to indicate that I can play nicely on different surfaces, I do know I can do it, however to recover from the hump and win a primary title open air is nice.”
A red-hot Auger-Aliassime scored his fifth straight win, a streak that started together with his upset of US Open finalist Taylor Fritz at United Cup earlier this month.
“Effectively, it’s nice, clearly profitable 4 matches in a row, 5 if we rely United Cup, going into the AO,” Auger-Aliassime mentioned. “I imply, it’s solely, what, January 11, so it’s nice to begin a yr like that and let’s see.
“I’m going to take pleasure in tonight, get some good relaxation if I can, after which put together for the AO tomorrow. I already play Monday, so fast turnaround, however I imagine I can get by way of the primary spherical, after which let’s see how the match progresses.”
It was Korda’s first match since he underwent elbow surgical procedure final October. Korda confirmed grit saving seven of 10 break factors within the remaining.
As soon as Auger-Aliassime opened a 3-0 lead within the remaining set, he was swinging extra freely and almost untouchable on serve.
Auger-Aliassime took down two proficient Individuals in succession—top-seeded Tommy Paul and Korda—and rises to No. 23 within the ATP Dwell Rankings.
Nonetheless, there received’t be a lot time for the world No. 6 to take pleasure in this sixth profession championship.
Auger-Aliassime will open the Australian Open on Monday in opposition to harmful German Jan-Lennard Struff. The pair have cut up 4 prior conferences.
“Struff, robust, robust man. Not a simple first spherical, for positive,” Auger-Aliassime mentioned. “Let’s see. We performed previously, all the time robust matches, he’s crushed me, I beat him.
“Nice serve, I really feel like simply robust from each fingers. But in addition I don’t know what’s his type recently. He was a man that was perhaps seeded previously, now he’s not, so let’s see what sort of type he’s, I imply, I don’t know, however clearly a tricky man to play.”
