Rotterdam (Netherlands) (AFP)

Gaël Monfils, in great shape after his title last week in Montpellier, hopes to achieve the double: the French will defend his title on Sunday at the ATP 500 tournament in Rotterdam by facing the young Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, who hopes to conquer his first title on the circuit.

Auger-Aliassime, 19, qualified on the first Saturday for the final, beating Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta (30th) 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 in two sets.

In the evening, Monfils, 9th in the world, defeated Serbian Filip Krajinovic (30th in the world) 6-4, 7-6 (7/5).

The 33-year-old Frenchman was very solid in service in the first round (7 aces) and was decisive, breaking his opponent in the 10th game to win the first set in 42 minutes.

In the second inning, he then missed the opportunity to close the game by missing four match points at 5-4, letting his opponent slip into a decisive game, which the French finally narrowly dominated.

One week after a title in Montpellier, Monfils is going through an excellent period. After eight undefeated matches, he rose again to the final in Rotterdam to hope for a second title in eight days.

But facing him, he will have a solid opponent. Auger-Aliassime, great hope of world tennis, knew how to be solid against the experienced Pablo Carreno Busta reputed to be a real wall. He notably saved two break points at 5-5 in the first set before winning in the deciding game (7-2) thanks in particular to a better first ball.

Over the entire first run, the young Canadian scored 9 aces for only 2 to his opponent. Auger-Aliassime then continued his momentum by breaking from the 3rd game of the 2nd round to end up winning in two sets.

The Canadian has never yet won an ATP title. And this result is the best obtained since his early career, after his final lost last year on the land of Rio. It is also the first time that he has reached a hard final on the main circuit.

After a difficult start to the season (including an entry loss to Ernests Gulbis at the Australian Open), "FAA" seems to have returned to form this week at the Ahoy in Rotterdam.

Even the favorite, Gaël Monfils must therefore be wary.

© 2020 AFP