Felix Auger-Aliassime: Aljaz Bedene can beat good players, I had to earn my win

Rising Canadian star Felix Auger-Aliassime says world No. 52 Aljaz Bedene is capable of beating good players and he knew he would have to earn the win when he stepped on the court to play the Slovenian. 

Auger-Aliassime, ranked at No. 21 in the world, overcame Bedene in two tight sets 6-4 7-6 (6) to make his maiden semifinal in Rotterdam and come two wins away from winning his maiden ATP title at the age of 19. 

The two players were all tied at four games apiece after the opening eighth game of the match, before the Canadian claimed back-to-back breaks and won four games in a row to open a 6-4 2-0 lead. 

Yet, Bedene refused to give up as he worked his way back into the second set and even had a set point in the tie-break but failed to convert as the 19-year-old realized his first match point to set up a semifinal against Pablo Carreno Busta.

"He didn’t give me a lot, but I was clutch in the first set to break him at 5-4,” Auger-Aliassime said after beating Bedene, per the ATP Tour. “Outside of that he didn’t give me much. We know he can beat some good players, including this week and throughout his career. You know you’ve got to earn it, but you’ll get your chances - and I did.

“In the second set, I was a little bit frustrated with myself how he came back and I gave away too many free points. I felt like he was playing better and better, and I had to accept the challenge. The tie-break could have gone so many ways, but I am happy with the way I fought.”

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/37sEGtU