Auger-Aliassime survives tiebreak scare in Brussels
Felix Auger-Aliassime fought through a tense third-set collapse to outlast Damir Dzumhur, securing a quarterfinal spot that sharpens his chase for the Nitto ATP Finals amid the indoor swing’s pressure.
On the brisk indoor hardcourts of Brussels, where echoes of rallies fill the arena, Felix Auger-Aliassime stared down a grueling test from Damir Dzumhur at the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open. The Canadian built momentum early, snagging the first set in a 7-6(3) tiebreak by unleashing powerful serves that kicked high off the surface, only for Dzumhur’s crafty underspin to level the score at 6-4 in the second. Nearly three hours into the battle, at 5-4 in the decider, Auger-Aliassime earned three match points on return, his aggressive inside-out forehands pinning the Bosnian back, but Dzumhur clawed back with precise down-the-line passes that tested the lines.
“I am feeling good and better now the match is over and I won,” Auger-Aliassime said. “It was a tough day for different reasons and you just have to fight and get through. It was three hours but a lot of fun.”
Dzumhur‘s slices test mental edge
Dzumhur disrupted the rhythm with low-skidding crosscourt slices that forced Auger-Aliassime to bend low on returns, turning quick points into extended exchanges that sapped energy under the arena lights. The Canadian adjusted by shortening his backswing for sharper one–two combinations, following flat serves with deep inside-in forehands to reclaim control, yet the Bosnian’s net rushes in the final tiebreak demanded crisp volleying to seal the 7-6(5) escape. This 2-0 head-to-head lead feels hard-won, as Dzumhur’s defensive patterns exposed cracks in Auger-Aliassime’s consistency, mirroring the psychological grind of a season where every hold matters.
For the 25-year-old, recent form has sparked optimism, with a semifinal push at the US Open and quarterfinal runs in Cincinnati and Shanghai at the Masters 1000 level, where he varied serve placements to neutralize bigger hitters. In Belgium, memories of his 2022 Antwerp title linger even as the ATP 250 event moved to Brussels this year, the familiar hardcourt speed amplifying his flat groundstrokes while the crowd’s murmurs added to the tension during those lost match points. He enters the last eight with a 38-20 record this season, a tally that underscores resilience amid the tour’s relentless pace.
Race to Turin tightens with victory
This survival cements Auger-Aliassime at 10th in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin on 2,955 points, trailing eighth-placed Lorenzo Musetti by 480 as the Italian prepares for his Thursday match here. Chasing a second appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals, the Canadian now faces Botic van de Zandschulp or American qualifier Eliot Spizzirri, a clash where exploiting return vulnerabilities could build crucial momentum on these unforgiving courts. The stakes feel immediate, with every point in the indoor swing potentially reshaping the standings before the year-end push.
Earlier, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard advanced when Nikoloz Basilashvili retired at 7-5, the fifth seed’s baseline aggression overwhelming before the halt, setting up a quarterfinal against Musetti or Yannick Hanfmann. As the draw unfolds, Auger-Aliassime’s path forward hinges on channeling this tiebreak grit, turning vulnerability into the fuel needed to close the gap in the race ahead.
