Felix Auger-Aliassime showcased a resilient performance at the European Open, moving closer to his goal of qualifying for the ATP Finals in Turin. The Canadian, seeded second, engaged in a fierce battle against Damil Dzumhur, ultimately winning the match with a score of 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(5). This victory was crucial as it bolstered his position in the Race to Turin standings.
The match was anything but straightforward for Auger-Aliassime, who faced several challenges throughout. He squandered three match points while serving for the match at 5-4 in the final set, but demonstrated tenacious determination to emerge victorious after nearly three hours of play. “I am feeling good and better now the match is over and I won,” said Auger-Aliassime. “It was a tough day for different reasons, and you just have to fight and get through. It was three hours but a lot of fun.”
Having won this tournament back in 2022 when it was held in Antwerp, Auger-Aliassime is eager to reclaim his title in its new location in Brussels. With this win, he has advanced to the quarterfinals, where he will encounter either Botic van de Zandschulp from the Netherlands or American qualifier Eliot Apizzirri.
His journey towards qualifying for the ATP Finals is still a tall order, currently trailing Lorenzo Musetti, who sits in eighth place, by 530 points. Musetti, the top seed in Brussels, continues to keep pace by defeating Yannick Hanfmann 7-6(3), 7-5, capitalizing on the only break point of the match at a critical moment.
In another notable match of the day, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard progressed to the quarterfinals after his opponent, Nikoloz Basilashvili, was forced to retire while Perricard was leading 7-5. Perricard will next face Musetti as the tournament advances.
With the stakes growing higher in Brussels, all eyes will be on Auger-Aliassime as he aims to secure his spot in Turin while demonstrating the intense competitive spirit that he is known for.
