Félix Auger-Aliassime is off to the finals of the Madrid Open after opponent Jiri Lehecka was compelled to retire simply six video games into their match.
It was a tragic and anti-climactic end to what had been a nicely anticipated semifinal.
The showdown started competitively with each gamers imposing their heavy groundstrokes, and Lehecka escaping early bother within the third recreation, saving a break level likelihood to carry for a 2-1 lead.
Nevertheless, at 3-2 within the opening set, a sudden motion left Lehecka wincing in ache. The Czechian left the court docket for physio remedy at 3-3 however was unable to proceed, halting the match simply three factors later as a consequence of his again damage.
Photograph/ATP Tour
It’s a maiden ATP Masters 1000 closing for the Canadian, who additionally superior by means of the quarter-finals through walkover from Jannik Sinner, and obtained an earlier retirement from Jakub Mensik within the third spherical.
The Montreal native is simply the third Canadian in singles historical past to succeed in a Masters 1000 closing, becoming a member of Milos Raonic and Denis Shapovalov.
He’ll face a well-known foe in Sunday’s championship match as he challenges world quantity eight, Andrey Rublev.
The pair have met 5 occasions, with Rublev holding a 4-1 edge within the head-to-head, although lots of the encounters have been shut.
Of their most up-to-date assembly in Rotterdam earlier this season, the Russian saved three match factors earlier than overcoming the Canadian 3-6, 7-6, 7-5.
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It’s additionally solely their second ever matchup on clay; Rublev triumphed on the floor 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 in Umag of their first profession assembly in 2018.
Regardless of missing match play the final two rounds, Auger-Aliassime has proven a serious surge in type within the Spanish capital the previous two weeks.
He earned his greatest profession win on clay within the spherical of 16, defeating three-time Grand Slam finalist Casper Ruud in straight units. He additionally rallied for a tough fought win over Yoshihito Nishioka in his first match, and ousted world quantity 20 Adrian Mannarino 6-0, 6-4 within the spherical of 64.
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The 23-year-old will contest his fifteenth profession ATP closing and first of 2024. Auger-Aliassime’s final singles victory got here in October on the Swiss Indoors in Basel.
