Felix Auger-Aliassime boosted his Nitto ATP Finals hopes with his triumph at the European Open in Brussels on Sunday. Auger-Aliassime completed his title-winning run by beating Jiri Lehecka 7-6(2), 6-7(6), 6-2 after two hours and 34 minutes.
“It’s the final, so we put everything on the line,” the 25-year-old Canadian commented. “I feel like we were both extremely focused from the beginning. It was a high level for two sets, then you don’t know how things can go…. But I’m obviously glad.”
It is the eighth ATP Tour title for Auger-Aliassime, including his seventh indoors. Lehecka is 2-4 lifetime in ATP finals. The 23-year-old Czech is now a back-to-back runner-up at this tournament (it was held in Antwerp last year).
“I have so much respect for him as a person (and) as a player,” Auger-Aliassime said of Lehecka. “He’s a great guy. Since he’s been on tour we’ve gotten along very well, so credit to him and his team–they do a fantastic job.”
Auger-Aliassime moves to within 330 points of Lorenzo Musetti for the all-important No. 8 spot in the race to Turin. Musetti lost to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the Brussels quarterfinals.
Both players can earn up to 500 points this week. Auger-Aliassime is playing in Basel, while Musetti is taking the court in Vienna.
Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic have already clinched spots in the Nitto ATP Finals. They are followed in the current standings by Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, and Alex de Minaur.
nice one, Felix
Allons-y, AA!!!