Will the third time be the charm for Felix Auger-Aliassime?
The 18-year-old will be playing in his third ATP final already this season when he battles Matteo Berrettini for the Mercedes Cup title on Sunday afternoon.
Auger-Aliassime is 0-2 so far, having lost twice on clay to Laslo Djere in Rio de Janeiro and to Benoit Paire in Lyon. He almost played in a much bigger final at the Miami Masters, making a run to the semis as a qualifier before getting beat by John Isner in a pair of tiebreakers. Maintaining his awesome form in Stuttgart, the Canadian defeated Ernests Gulbis, Gilles Simon, and Dustin Brown (saved one match point) and then got a walkover from compatriot Milos Raonic on Saturday.
“It’s been an unbelievable week for me,” Auger-Aliassime assured. “I’ve been playing good tennis. I got through on the edge [against Brown] and to be in another final, it’s unbelievable. So I think I’ll try to enjoy it and give everything also because it’s obviously my third final this year, so I’ll try to give it my all to maybe get my first title.”
Berrettini is bidding for his third career title in his fourth final. Like Auger-Aliassime, all of his previous finals have come on clay. The 23-year-old Italian triumphed last summer in Gstaad and recently went the distance in back-to-back weeks, lifting the Budapest trophy before finishing runner-up in Munich. Berrettini’s breakout 2019 campaign has only gained even more steam with Stuttgart victories over Nick Kyrgios, Karen Khachanov, Denis Kudla, and Jan-Lennard Struff.
“This week I’m playing really well,” said the world No. 30, who has not yet dropped a set or even played a tiebreaker. “I’m feeling really comfortable on the court. Since last year I think I’ve improved a lot on grass.”
So, too, has Auger-Aliassime. In fact, this is the first ATP-level tournament on the green stuff in the youngster’s career.
“He’s a great player,” Berrettini praised. “He’s in his third final this year and for sure he’s playing really well. I’m really looking forward to seeing what’s going to happen. I never played him; I just practiced once (with him) here for the first time. I think it’s going to be a great [match] and I’ll try to do my best.”
It should be a great one, but Berrettini has been hands down the best player all week long and he also has the edge in terms of title-winning experience.
Pick: Berrettini in 3
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People who voted for FAA in 2 haven’t really seen berrettini lmao. Berrettini or either FAA in 3, can’t really see Berrettini not stealing at least 1 set or even 2. Maybe even berrettini in 3.
Berettini best player this week,but FAA competes well and gets a set.
I know the matches have started but my picks would’ve been Thompson and FAA in 3. However I wasn’t aware of how money Berrettini has been this week. The guy hasn’t dropped serve. He is really an all court player with an amazing future. I didn’t realize what a cannon of a serve he had. That Kyrgios win probably had more to do with Berrettini than Kyrgios.
He’s prepared to rush the net too, and is quite good when st the net. I agree, he’s more an all court player, and even an all surface player as well. His big serve has prevented FAA from coming forward.
Yes he is all surface for sure. Can do a bit of everything. Felix has a chance here to take the set though. Great match so far.
Berrettini wins in straight sets! Well done, and what a TB!
I didn’t know FAA is so good at TBs, winning many of them but not this time though. Berrettini’s serve wasn’t broken whole week, incredible! (Something like Sasha’s during Madrid last year).
Yeah that TB was insane. Berrettini has nerves of steel and so does FAA. It was one of those matches where you don’t wanna see a loser. Well done to the Italian who will move up 8 spots to 22 in the world as Felix stays at 21. I would say these guys are both future top ten players at the least.
It’s a fine line between winning in 2 or 3. Especially when there’s close TBs involved.
Sad that FAA lost the final to Berrettini 🙁
They were both great this week. I’m not picking either one, FAA or Berrettini, to go far this week tho.