Félix Auger-Aliassime is into his third semifinal of 2025 on the ATP 500 Qatar Open in Doha after Daniil Medvedev retired one set into their quarter-final conflict on Thursday.
The Canadian had gotten off to a powerful begin, dropping simply two factors on function he took the opening set 6-3. Between units, Medvedev introduced he couldn’t proceed because of sickness, sending Auger-Aliassime into the ultimate 4. It was the second match in a row the place the Montrealer acquired a free move to the subsequent spherical as his second-round opponent, Hamad Medjedovic, was unable to play in any respect because of a leg damage.
Whereas not a accomplished match, it nonetheless counts as Auger-Aliassime’s first victory over Medvedev on a tough court docket in eight makes an attempt. His lone earlier win over the previous US Open champion was on clay final July on the Summer season Olympics in Paris.
Auger-Aliassime had not even gained a set in opposition to Medvedev on a tough court docket since taking a two-set lead of their epic 2022 quarter-final on the Australian Open. On that event, Medvedev gained the final three units to finish the comeback after which gained their subsequent three hard-court matches in straight units, stretching his streak to 10 straight units on onerous courts over the Canadian.
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However that appeared primed to vary rapidly on Thursday in Doha, as Auger-Aliassime was dominating on his serve early on. The Canadian gained 12 of his first 13 service factors to maintain the stress on Medvedev. At 3-3, Auger-Aliassime was in a position to get right into a return sport and scored the primary break to go up 4-3.
After a routine maintain to get inside a sport of taking the set, he broke Medvedev once more to take his first set on a tough court docket in opposition to his rival in over three years. Having misplaced the final 4 video games in a row, Medvedev had sufficient, withdrawing from the match with an sickness.
Auger-Aliassime will goal to succeed in his third remaining already in 2025 when he takes on Andrey Rublev within the semifinals on Friday. Rublev leads their head-to-head 5-1.
