One set separated Felix Auger-Aliassime from the primary outside title of his profession.
Amid third-set stress, Auger-Aliassime wasn’t keen to play the ready sport.
Auger-Aliassime received 16 of 17 factors performed on his serve within the closing set charging previous Sebastian Korda 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to seize his sixth profession title on the Adelaide Worldwide.
It’s the 24-year-old Canadian’s first profession outside title and first Tour-level crown since he efficiently defended Basel in 2023.
“It feels nice, any title feels superb,” stated Auger-Aliassime, who was 0-8 in Tour-level finals earlier than successful the 2022 Rotterdam title. “I had my share of problem to win titles at first of my profession, and now, you realize, each title means lots. It’s been additionally a tricky couple of final months, however, yeah, to indicate that I can play nicely on different surfaces, I do know I can do it, however to recover from the hump and win a primary title outside is nice.”
A red-hot Auger-Aliassime scored his fifth straight win, a streak that started along with his upset of US Open finalist Taylor Fritz at United Cup earlier this month.
“Nicely, it’s nice, clearly successful 4 matches in a row, 5 if we rely United Cup, going into the AO,” Auger-Aliassime stated. “I imply, it’s solely, what, January 11, so it’s nice to begin a yr like that and let’s see.
“I’m going to get pleasure from tonight, get some good relaxation if I can, after which put together for the AO tomorrow. I already play Monday, so fast turnaround, however I consider I can get by the primary spherical, after which let’s see how the event progresses.”
It was Korda’s first event since he underwent elbow surgical procedure final October. Korda confirmed grit saving seven of 10 break factors within the closing.
As soon as Auger-Aliassime opened a 3-0 lead within the closing set, he was swinging extra freely and practically untouchable on serve.
Auger-Aliassime took down two gifted People in succession—top-seeded Tommy Paul and Korda—and rises to No. 23 within the ATP Dwell Rankings.
Nonetheless, there received’t be a lot time for the world No. 6 to get pleasure from this sixth profession championship.
Auger-Aliassime will open the Australian Open on Monday towards harmful German Jan-Lennard Struff. The pair have cut up 4 prior conferences.
“Struff, robust, robust man. Not a straightforward first spherical, for positive,” Auger-Aliassime stated. “Let’s see. We performed previously, at all times robust matches, he’s crushed me, I beat him.
“Nice serve, I really feel like simply robust from each palms. But additionally I don’t know what’s his type recently. He was a man that was perhaps seeded previously, now he’s not, so let’s see what kind of type he’s, I imply, I don’t know, however clearly a tricky man to play.”
