In an electrifying semifinal showdown at the Adelaide International, Canada’s own Félix Auger-Aliassime triumphed over top-seeded American Tommy Paul, propelling him to the final.
The fifth-seeded Auger-Aliassime, hailing from Montreal, emerged victorious in a grueling three-set thriller, claiming the match 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-4 after nearly two hours and 45 minutes of intense play.
With 74% of his first-serve points landing in, compared to Paul’s 69%, Auger-Aliassime notched up his second career victory against the 12th-ranked American, previously besting him at Indian Wells earlier in 2023.
“It was a fierce contest. Both physical and mental determination played a big role, as the match was filled with dramatic shifts,” Auger-Aliassime reflected.
“I believe we didn’t showcase our best form today, but that’s the nature of the game. You sometimes have to dig deep and push through the challenges, and I’m thrilled I managed to do that today.”
Auger-Aliassime is set to clash with No. 2 seed Sebastian Korda from the U.S. in Saturday’s much-anticipated final.
Currently ranked 29th in the world, Auger-Aliassime is chasing his sixth title on the ATP Tour and his first since 2023.
The Adelaide tournament serves as a crucial warm-up for the upcoming Australian Open, where Auger-Aliassime’s first-round opponent will be Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.
