Auger-Aliassime brushes aside Bublik to power into Rotterdam final

Felix Auger-Aliassime needed just 54 minutes to beat Alexander Bublik
Felix Auger-Aliassime needed just 54 minutes to beat Alexander BublikPeter Lous / Reuters

Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime produced a dominant display of attacking tennis on Saturday to power past Alexander Bublik into the Rotterdam Open final with a 6-1, 6-2 win in just 54 minutes.

The world number six hit 25 winners in the match to sweep aside his Kazakh opponent and set up a final with top-seeded Australian, Alex de Minaur.

"It's tough to not be satisfied," said Auger-Aliassime, who was unplayable at times.

"I was striking the ball well from the beginning, and I never looked back, so it was a great match," added the 25-year-old.

The Canadian raced off to a flying start, breaking Bublik's first service game with a combination of fierce groundstrokes and stubborn defence.

A Bublik double fault and netted forehand gifted Auger-Aliassime another break in the sixth game, leaving him to serve for the set at 5-1 up.

Auger-Aliassime wrapped up the first set in just 25 minutes, finishing with his second ace to cap a near-flawless set of tennis, with 13 winners and just six errors.

The second set started more competitively, going on serve until Auger-Aliassime grasped the initiative in the fifth game, pouncing on an ill-judged drop shot to break Bublik.

Bublik was reduced to trying a playful underarm serve in his next service game, delighting the Rotterdam crowd, but he was again broken, and Auger-Aliassime served for the match.

At match point, the Kazakh player dumped a lame backhand into the bottom of the net to gift Auger-Aliassime the contest and a chance to claim his second title in Rotterdam.

The Canadian will face De Minaur in Sunday's showpiece after the Australian beat Ugo Humbert 6-3, 6-4.

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