The Open Occeanie semi-finals proved a step too far for the two qualifiers who had fought their way through three main draw rounds to reach the last four in Montpellier.
It was good that I won the first set. It gave me time to figure out how to break him. I think I served much better in the third set. Very satisfied Auger
But both started to fight for themselves, which will give them confidence for the future.
Home hope Titouan Droguet forced defending champion and top seed Felix Auger Assiame into a third set, where he unfortunately ran out of steam as the Canadian raised his own set in response to losing the second set.
He eventually won 6-4 6-7(5) 6-1 to reach his 21st tour-level final and his 13th indoors, where he hopes to win his ninth title after winning seven of his current tally indoors.
“I felt my chance would come even in the second set,” the 25-year-old said. “It was good that I won the first set. It gave me time to figure out how to break it. I think I served much better in the third set. I also came back better, I think, on the return on the second serve. I hit the ball cleaner and hit it really well on several targets.”
Droguet’s serving proved a problem for the world number 8, who hit 14 aces past him, but once Auger Aliassime had worked him out, his greater experience helped him across the finish line.
He saved three break points in the match, two of which were at 1-all in the third, before running away in the last five games to storm into the final.
Having now defeated two Frenchmen on the way to reaching the final, namely Arthur Fils and Droguet, the defending champion will have to deal with another home hope in the final itself: Adrian Mannarino, who reached the title round earlier in the day.
“I love it. I like playing like that,” says Auger Aliassime about the loud support from the stands for the home players. “It’s much better to play in that kind of atmosphere than not playing in front of anyone, or not having people involved in the game. It’s great, for sure.”
(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Mannarino ended American Martin Damm’s run with a 1-6 6-3 6-4 win, but as the scoreline indicates the 37-year-old had to bounce back from a poor start to reach his 16th tour-level final and first on home soil.
“It was a battle,” said Mannarino, who is chasing his sixth career title and first in three years. “He pressured me from the first shots. I just had to do my best. I had a small chance in the second set and I made it and in the third set it was the same scenario. It went my way, but it was pretty crazy.”
#Montpellier #Auger #Aliassime #Mannarino #title