What a begin to 2025 for Félix Auger-Aliassime!
After going title-less in 2024, the Canadian No. 1 wasted no time in setting a greater tone for the brand new 12 months, claiming his first title since October 2023 in his first common tour occasion of 2025 on the Adelaide Worldwide. Auger-Aliassime defeated Sebastian Korda in three units within the last.
It’s the sixth title of the Montrealer’s profession and his first open air. In reality, it’s the first outside singles title by a Canadian man since Milos Raonic received the Brisbane title to kick off his unimaginable 2016 season. The win over Korda was Auger-Aliassime’s second in a last, having additionally defeated the American within the Antwerp last in 2022.
This assembly was a lot nearer than their first conflict with a trophy on the road. Late breaks determined the primary two units earlier than the Canadian put his foot on the gasoline, working away with the decider for a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 win.
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In his earlier spherical matches, the Canadian was a bit boom-bust with excessive winner and error counts. His efficiency within the last was a lot cleaner, as he struck 25 winners, nearly double Korda’s 13, to simply 21 unforced errors whereas the American had 41. As at all times, the serve was vital as Auger-Aliassime received 83 per cent of his first serve factors 48 per cent of his serves have been unreturned.
Auger-Aliassime needed to escape some early hazard, dealing with three break factors in his first service sport and one other in his second, earlier than settling in. Because it so usually does, the serve helped him get out the jam. He saved all 4 break factors, three with unreturned serves and the fourth with a giant serve that arrange a simple forehand winner.
Having dealt with Korda’s large opening punch, the Canadian began to search out his rhythm within the rallies. Because the set went alongside, the American began struggling to maintain up with Auger-Aliassime and within the sixth sport, some sensible hitting from the Canadian gave him a love-40 opening on Korda’s serve. Korda missed a backhand to give up the break.
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Whereas Auger-Aliassime missed an opportunity to interrupt for the set at 5-2, holding a pair of set factors on Korda’s serve, he didn’t want one other break as he didn’t drop some extent on serve in his final two service video games of the set, closing it out with back-to-back holds to like.
The American managed to battle again to even in the beginning of the second set, with pair exchanging straightforward holds to get to 2-all. There, Auger-Aliassime had an opportunity to take a stranglehold on the match when he had a pair of break factors. Nonetheless, Korda discovered some big-hitting of his personal to wipe away the chance.
When the door lastly creaked open for the American, he burst via late within the set. Auger-Aliassime had been cruising on serve since his second service sport of the match however serving at 3-4 within the second, he had an sudden blip. A pair of double faults and a forehand miss gifted Korda a break level likelihood the place he drew a forehand error from the Canadian to take a 5-3 lead.
Identical to his semifinal win over prime seed Tommy Paul, Auger-Aliassime shortly put the frustration of shedding the second set behind him. He instantly refound his rhythm on serve, opening the set with a maintain to like after which breaking in Korda’s first service sport, lacing an authoritative forehand winner up the road to take an early 2-0 lead which he celebrated with merely an intense stare.
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There was no letup from the Canadian regardless that he had the lead. He backed up the break with a simple maintain for 3-0 and continued placing stress on his opponent. Auger-Aliassime missed a break level within the fourth sport however raced forward love-40 on Korda’s serve at 1-4, the place a deep forehand drew an error on the second break level to place the Canadian a sport away from the title.
The third set was a serving masterclass from Auger-Aliassime and now up a double break, the end result was inevitable. He misplaced only one level on serve within the third set, holding to like thrice together with as he served for the title, which he fittingly sealed with an ace.
Auger-Aliassime is now 5-1 to start out 2025, with the 5 wins coming in a row after dropping his season opener on the United Cup. He’ll head to the Australian Open, the place he’s the twenty ninth seed, with loads of momentum as he has each a title and a High 5 win, over No. 4 Taylor Fritz on the United Cup, on his document. 4 of his 5 wins have been over People and the Canadian is at present on an eight-match successful streak in opposition to his southern neighbours.
He’ll play his first match on the Australian Open on Monday in Melbourne in opposition to Jan-Lennard Struff.
Tickets for the Davis Cup Qualifiers 1st Spherical tie between Canada and Hungary are actually on sale. Be a part of us February 1 and a couple of at IGA Stadium in Montreal, because the Canadian workforce begins their quest for the 2025 Davis Cup Last 8. To entry tickets at early-bird pricing, click on right here.
