By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday February 14, 2020

Felix Auger-Aliassime booked his spot in the Rotterdam semifinals with a convincing 6-4 7-6(6) triumph over Aljaz Bedene on Friday at the ABN Amro WTT. The 19-year-old Canadian will take his spot in the semis alongside Pablo Carreno Busta.

The veteran Spaniard saved a pair of match points to prevent what would have been an all-teenager semifinal as he took down Jannik Sinner 7-5 3-6 7-6(6).

Carreno Busta rallied from 4-6 down to take the third set breaker.

"In the tiebreak, saving two match points, playing aggressive like I need to play," Carreno Busta said. "It was a very important match to win because if you lose these kinds of matches it's very tough."

Defending champion Gael Monfils kept his fantastic form running with a 7-6(5) 6-2 takedown of Dan Evans for his 8th consecutive win at Rotterdam, while Filip Krajinovic claimed the last semi-final spot with an impressive 7-6(2) 6-4 win over Andrey Rublev.

Auger-Aliassime, who has recently switched back to last year's racquet after briefly experimenting with a new one at ATP Cup and Adelaide in January, was pleased with his attitude and his intensity after a hard-fought victory on Friday.

"I came clutch in that first set," he said. "Breaking him at 5-4, besides that he wasn't giving me much. We know he can beat some good players."

Auger-Aliassime finished with 22 winners, 10 aces and he saved two of three break points. The Canadian improves to 7-6 in the season and he's into his third career 500-level semi-final (Also Queens Club in 2019). Last year at Rio he became the youngest player ever to reach a title match at a 500 event.

Monfils had a close battle in the first set with Dan Evans, but pulled away in the second. The Frenchman improved to 19-7 lifetime at Rotterdam and he has now won eight straight dating back to his title run last season.

"Very solid one today," Monfils said. "Dan was playing good. In the breaker it was a couple points and I guess I went for it a little bit more than him."

In the final match of the day Filip Krajinovic eased past Andrey Rublev in a very impressive display of all-court tennis. The Serb saved four of five break points and reached his second ATP semifinal in as many weeks, handing Rublev (13-2) just his second loss of the season.

More to follow...