ATP Basel: Felix Auger-Aliassime tops Holger Rune and wins title

Felix Auger-Aliassime has been a player to beat on an indoor court in 2022. Following the Rotterdam title in February, his first in a career, Felix has played even better in the previous three weeks to lift three consecutive ATP titles! Felix added 1000 points to his tally and will almost certainly compete at his first ATP Finals in Turin in November. Auger-Aliassime’s fourth ATP title came in Basel on Sunday following a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Holger Rune in an hour and 39 minutes. Felix and Holger stood above all the rivals this week, never losing serve in the opening four matches and entering their third consecutive title match. It could be only one winner, though, and the Canadian had the upper hand. Felix fired 11 aces and played better behind the first and second serve. He defended all three break chances and broke a teenager once in each set to emerge at the top and seal the deal.

Felix Auger-Aliassime secured the Basel title over Holger Rune.

Auger-Aliassime had the advantage in the shortest and most advanced rallies, playing better than his rival from the baseline and at the net and firing 27 winners and 11 unforced errors. Both players held at 15 in their opening service games, and Rune wasted a game point at 1-2. He faced a break point and netted a routine backhand to fall 3-1 behind. Felix held in game five from 0-30 with a smash winner to confirm the advantage and settle into a fine rhythm. The Canadian grabbed the seventh game at love with an ace down the T line, and the Dane followed that in the next one to reduce the deficit to 5-3. Auger-Aliassime served for the set in game nine and brought it home at love for 6-3 in 34 minutes.

Holger made a fresh start in the second set and fired a forehand down the line winner in game two for a break point. Felix denied it with a booming serve, and they both served well in the next five games. Rune led 4-3 and created two break points in game eight that could have sent him closer to the set. Auger-Aliassime denied them with booming serves and held to lock the result at 4-4. The Canadian pushed hard on the return in game 11 and cracked a backhand down the line to create two break points. Holger saved them and erased the third with a service winner to keep fighting. The Dane squandered a game point and sprayed a forehand error on the fourth break point to fall 6-5 behind. Felix served for the title in game 12 and seized the third match point after the rival’s forehand error to celebrate the fourth title of the season.