By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday October 23, 2022
Felix Auger-Aliassime won his second title in as many weeks, taking his count to three in 2022 with a win over Sebastian Korda in Antwerp.
Photo Source: Tennis Tv
Winning titles used to be a challenged too formidable for Felix Auger-Aliassime.
The Canadian, who lost his first eight ATP finals, is finding them a breeze in 2022.
On Sunday in Belgium 22-year-old Auger-Aliassime racked up his second title in as many weeks – and his third of 2022 – by defeating American Sebastian Korda on Sunday in Antwerp, 6-3, 6-4.
Auger-Aliassime struck 23 winners against five unforced errors over the course of the 85-minute encounter, and saved both break points he faced to improve to 2-1 lifetime against Korda and 1-1 in 2022.
“You got me good last time we played, I’m happy I was able to get a win over you – you’re such a great player,” the Canadian told Korda after the final.
10th-ranked Auger-Aliassime, who has won titles in Rotterdam, Florence and Antwerp this season, increases his chances of reaching the ATP Finals in Turin with his title. He now stands 340 points clear of Taylor Fritz for the final spot, with Hubert Hurkacz 455 points back.
Given how well he has played indoors in 2022, it seems like a foregone conclusion that the Canadian will make his debut at the ATP’s prestigious year-end championships in November. He is 19-4 indoors in 2022, and will take his place in the Basel draw next week, where he is slated to face Marc-Andrea Huesler in the opening round.
“Incredible tournament, incredible last two weeks,” Korda told Auger-Aliassime on court.
Korda, who lost the final last week in Gijon (to Andrey Rublev) drops to 34-21 on the season – the 36th-ranked American is 1-3 lifetime in finals, and 3-8 lifetime against the top 10.
Auger-Aliassime increases his current winning streak to eight and becomes the seventh player to claim three or more titles on tour in 2022.
Alcaraz – 5
Djokovic
Nadal
Rublev – 4
Fritz – 3
Ruud – 3
Auger-Aliassime – 3
The Canadian faced only four break points in four matches this week in Belgium, saving three, including both in Sunday’s final.