Félix Auger-Aliassime is again within the semifinals of the Open Occitanie in Montpellier, France for the second yr in a row after a scientific victory over Yunchaokete Bu within the quarter-finals on Friday.
The second-seeded Canadian was dialed in all through the conflict, utilizing his huge baseline sport to bully Bu across the court docket. His serve was nearly untouchable and he cruised into the ultimate 4 with a 6-3, 6-4 win.
It was a basic Auger-Aliassime efficiency, the place he delivered 11 aces, received 86 per cent of his first serve factors, and by no means confronted a break level. Within the rallies, he blasted 19 winners to his opponent’s 12, whereas committing 15 unforced errors.
“My sport is extra disciplined,” stated Auger-Aliassime in his on-court interview after the win. “I really feel like final yr, I had some sensible photographs however some moments once I made lots of errors and I really feel like now, two straight set wins, it’s extra stable and I’m proud of that. That’s the objective, to go to a different degree, and hopefully I am going another step and make it to the finals on Sunday.”
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Early on, Bu got here out attempting to match Auger-Aliassime huge shot for giant shot, however the Chinese language struggled to maintain up with the Canadian’s energy. Within the fourth sport, Auger-Aliassime pummeled Bu from the baseline and was rewarded with a break level probability when the Chinese language netted a forehand. Bu once more cracked below the second seed’s onslaught, sending a backhand lengthy to give up the early break.
From there, Auger-Aliassime did what he does finest, locking in and driving his serve the remainder of the way in which. He dropped simply two factors on serve after securing the break and cruised by the remainder of the opening set.
Auger-Aliassime saved up the stress within the second. He had a pair of break factors within the opening sport and one other within the fifth, however Bu was capable of pull out some spectacular photographs, together with a spectacular backhand passing shot from nicely off the court docket, to save lots of them.
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However the Montrealer was to not be denied. At 3-3, Bu sprayed a forehand large to arrange one other break level and this time, a intelligent drop shot from Auger-Aliassime drew an error to safe the break. Identical to the primary set, he clamped down on serve and by no means gave his opponent an opportunity to get again in it. Serving for the match, Auger-Aliassime hit 4 straight unreturnable serves, three being aces, to punch his ticket to the semis.
A yr in the past, Auger-Aliassime was overwhelmed within the semis by the eventual champion Alexander Bublik. This time round, he’ll face both fifth seed Tallon Griekspoor or Jesper de Jong.
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