Auger-Aliassime beats Korda in Antwerp for back to back titles, boosts ATP Finals hopes
Felix Auger-Aliassime won the trophy on Sunday against Sebastian Korda.
Félix Auger-Aliassime, Antwerp 2022 | © AP Photo/Olivier Matthys/SIPA
For Felix Auger-Aliassime, winning titles has become like London buses; you wait ages for one, and then, in his case, three come along in quick succession.
The Canadian picked up his third career title – all of which have come this year – with a fine 6-3, 6-4 win over fellow 22-year-old Seb Korda on Sunday as he won the European Open title in Antwerp.
The win ensured back to back titles for Auger-Aliassime, who won last week in Florence and who broke his duck – after losing his first eight finals – in Rotterdam earlier this year. And it also boosted his hopes of qualifying for the season-ending ATP Finals. He currently sits seventh in the ATP Race.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “To win back to back titles, my first one here in Antwerp, against a player like Sebi, who’s one of the greats to come, it’s just amazing.
“It was a tough week too, so I’m thrilled to push through and win another title.”
Back to back finals for Korda
“Congratulations to Felix, incredible tournament, incredible last two weeks,” said world No 36 Korda, who reached the final in Gijon last week but who was troubled by a sore shoulder in the final against Auger-Aliassime on Sunday.
“Back to back finals is a great achievement,” he said, to his team. “Unfortunately we couldn’t get it done today but hopefully we will be back in the coming weeks and go one step further.”
Auger-Aliassime, ranked No 10, defeated French lucky loser Manuel Guinard (6-3, 6-3), No 5 seed Daniel Evans (4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2) and Frenchman Richard Gasquet (7-6 (2), 7-6 (3)) in the previous rounds.
Earlier in the tournament, Korda, ranked No 36, defeated Marcos Giron (6-3, 6-7, 6-4), Russian Karen Khachanov, the No 4 seed (7-5, 7-6 (9)), Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka, the No 8 seed (6-0, 6-2) and Austrian Dominic Thiem (6-7 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (4)).
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