Swiss Indoors: Resurgent Auger-Aliassime completes successful defence in Basel

Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, the No 6 seed, defeated Pole Hubert Hurkacz, the No 4 seed, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5) to win the Swiss Indoors final at the Halle Saint-Jacques in Basel on Sunday afternoon.

After a terrible start to the year, by his standards, the Canadian picked up his first trophy of the year, defending his title from 12 months ago.

“I’m definitely back,” an ecstatic Auger-Aliassime said. “I let my racquet talk. That’s always been the motto of my career. I’ve had the conviction that I can be a top player since I’m a kid, but there were many doubts this year about my performances and why.

“I’m happy that I was able to prove to everybody that I still belong among the best players in the world, that I can play this level. I never doubted it, but it’s good to confirm it on the court.”

Auger-Aliassime, ranked No 19, beat Swiss wildcard Leandro Riedi (6-3, 6-2), Dutch qualifier Botic van de Zandschulp (6-4, 6-2), Russian qualifier Alexander Shevchenko (7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-6 (1)) and Dane Holger Rune, the top seed (6-3, 6-2) ahead of his victory.

Earlier in the tournament, Hurkacz, ranked No 11, beat Serb Dusan Lajovic (7-6 (2), 6-3), German Jan-Lennard Struff (6-1, 6-4), Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor (6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-4) and Frenchman Ugo Humbert (6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (5)).

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