Auger-Aliassime crushes Tsitsipas to win maiden ATP title in Rotterdam

Rotterdam, Feb. 14 (BUS): Three years after his debut in the ATP draw in Rotterdam, Felix Auger-Aliassime’s career came full circle when he lifted his first-round title with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Greek seed Stefanos. Tsitsipas in the final on Sunday.

Winning the title was a long time for the 21-year-old Canadian who had fallen in the final round eight times before. After beating Andrei Rublev in the semi-finals in three sets, he needed just 78 minutes to defeat Tsitsipas, Reuters reported.

“This has not been the smoothest route since my first final three years ago,” said Auger-Aliassime.

“It’s a great day for me to get my first title and especially here. I played my first ATP major draw here two years ago, so I won my first title here.

“I have so many good memories playing here in front of you, so thank you for making it a special week for me that I will remember for the rest of my life. It’s the happiest day of my career and I hope it’s the first to come.”

It was the second time Auger-Aliassime had been so lucky in Rotterdam after losing the 2020 final to Gael Monfils. Auger-Aliassime fell into the Australian Open quarter-finals but started the season by helping Canada win the ATP Cup in Sydney.