Stefanos Tsitsipas Breezes Past Felix Auger-Aliassime to Defend Open 13 Title

Stefanos Tsitsipas faced Felix Auger-Aliassime in the final of the Open 13 event in Marseille. The Greek came out for the final as the defending champion at the ATP 250 event, having won it last year.

The pair have played twice before this match, with Felix leading the rivalry with 2 wins to 1.

The Greek, however, leveled the head to head between them today with a straight sets victory over Felix 6-3, 6-4.

Stefanos Tsitsipas off to a great start

Stefanos Tsitsipas started the match off with his service game. A cautious and somewhat nervy opening game saw Tsitsipas hold. Felix Auger-Aliassime too held his opening serve in a comfortable manner.

By his second service game, Stefanos had settled in well and held to love. The first break points occurred in the next game as Felix stepped up to serve. Tsitsipas played an aggressive game to get two break points at 15-40.

The Canadian fought back to force a deuce, but Tsitsipas took the very first advantage after that to get the first break of the match. Another solid service game, held to love by Tsitsipas, enabled him to consolidate the break of serve.

The rallies were flowing now as Stefanos constructed a wonderful point, and finished it off with a commanding volley.

However, Stefanos was not satisfied with his one break. He fought hard to get a second break. Despite an advantage on Felix’s serve, he could not convert.

Serving for the set at 5-3, Tsitsipas had to dig deep to hold on. Down 15-40, he fought back and saved three break points and went on to hold serve and take the set 6-3.

A very tight set, decided by fine margins as Tsitsipas takes the lead.

A straight sets victory for the Greek

Felix started off the second set with his service game, holding it well and comfortably. Down a set, he made his mind up to get back into the game. He took the initiative in the set by attacking Tsitsipas’ serve, and taking a 0-30 lead.

But Stefanos Tsitsipas put in three first serves and take back control. At 40-30, Tsitsipas played a good point and approached the net to finish off the rally. Felix’s shot was going well wide, but Stefanos volleyed it nonetheless. It turned out a poor decision, allowing Felix to get a winner.

But despite all that, the Greek managed to hold and maintain the balance in the second set.

Auger-Aliassime was now playing with a clear game plan; to approach the net every chance he got, suffocating the Greek’s angles. And it was working well too. The Canadian was holding his serve in quite an assertive manner.

Unlike in the opening set, where Tsitsipas gave himself plenty of chances to break, Felix looked to have got into his rhythm well. His quick and efficient holds were allowing him to expend more energy on breaking Tsitsipas’ service.

Three poor unforced errors by Felix allowed Stefanos to hold relatively comfortably this time to make it 2-2 in the second.

Auger-Aliassime’s unforced errors continued into his service game. At 0-15, Felix got into a great position and Tsitsipas had to lob the ball, which was going out but Felix decided to smash the ball and missed.

Down 0-30 now, Felix kept his aggression, going to the net again. But Tsitsipas hit a low and quick passing shot, which Felix could not return. Tsitsipas now had three break points. Three first serves allowed Felix to take control of the points and force a deuce.

A good rally ensued at advantage for Felix, but he hit a backhand long to go back to deuce. the unforced errors were piling up for the Canadian now, as another wide backhand gave his opponent another break point. A beautiful passing shot by the Greek gave him the first break of the set to go 3-2 up on serve.

Felix, however, was not about to go down quite that easy. he played a beautiful game on the Greek’s serve to give himself three break points at 0-40. A long and wide forehand by Tsitsipas at 15-40 gave the break right back to Felix to restore parity at 3-3.

The Canadian was playing a very good attacking game when he was not making unforced errors. At 15-30, a wonderful point ensued. When Felix approached the net, Tsitsipas tried to pass him and overpower him. He finally finished the point on the open court to get two break points. He needed just one, as he took a 4-3 lead on serve.

Leading 5-3, he just needed a game now to defend his title in Marseille. Auger-Aliassime was determined to make Stefanos serve out the match as he took a 40-0 lead. After a little fight back by his opponent, Felix managed to hold at 40-30, forcing Stefanos to serve it out for the match.

The Greek had no problems in doing so, playing a commanding game to close out the match and win his second Open 13 title 6-3, 6-4.