Felix Auger-Aliassime boosted his Nitto ATP Finals hopes with his win at the European Open in Brussels on Sunday. Auger-Aliassime completed his title-winning run by beating Jiri Lehecka 7-6(2), 6-7(6), 6-2 after two hours and 34 minutes.
“It’s the final, so we’re putting everything on the line,” said the 25-year-old Canadian. “I feel like we were both extremely focused from the start. It was a high level for two sets, then you don’t know how it can go… But of course I’m happy.”
It is the eighth ATP Tour title for Auger-Aliassime, including his seventh indoor. Lehecka is 2-4 lifetime in ATP finals. The 23-year-old Czech is now back-to-back runner-up at this tournament (which was held in Antwerp last year).
“I have so much respect for him as a person (and) as a player,” Auger-Aliassime said of Lehecka. “He’s a great guy. Since he’s been on tour we’ve been getting along really well, so full credit to him and his team, they’re doing a fantastic job.”
Auger-Aliassime comes within 330 points of Lorenzo Musetti for the all-important number 8 spot in the race to Turin. Musetti lost to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the quarter-finals of Brussels.
Both players can earn a maximum of 500 points this week. Auger-Aliassime will play in Basel, while Musetti will take to court in Vienna.
Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic have already qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals. They are followed in the current rankings by Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton and Alex de Minaur.
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