By Canadian Press

Auger-Aliassime reaches first Masters final in Madrid with another walkover

May 3, 2024 | 1:14 PM

MADRID — Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime has advanced to his first ATP Masters final, and he hasn’t had to play all that much tennis to do it.

Auger-Aliassime moved on to the final of the Madrid Open clay-court tournament Friday after semifinal opponent Jiri Lehecka of Czechia retired due to injury with their match tied 3-3 in the first set.

The 23-year-old Canadian didn’t even take the court in the quarterfinals when his opponent, top-seeded Jannik Sinner, withdrew from the tournament with a hip injury.

Auger-Aliassime also advanced by walkover in the third round when Jakub Mensik of Czechia retired from that match. Auger-Aliassime was leading 6-1, 1-0.

When Auger-Aliassime has played in Madrid, he has looked good. He posted a convincing 6-4, 7-5 win over fifth seed Casper Ruud of Norway on the fourth round and easily handled 19th-seed Adrian Mannarino of France 6-0, 6-4 in the second round.

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Auger-Aliassime will face seventh-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev in Sunday’s final. Rublev advances with a 6-4, 6-3 win over American Taylor Fritz on Friday.

Rublev is 4-1 against Auger-Aliassime over his career, including a win on their only meeting on clay at the 2018 Croatian Open.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2024.

The Canadian Press