Auger-Aliassime reaches 1st Masters final with another walkover at Madrid Open

Auger-Aliassime reaches 1st Masters final with another walkover at Madrid Open | CBC Sports

Posted by Admin May 3, 2024 Sports

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 the Czech Republic retired from that match. Auger-Aliassime was leading 6-1, 1-0.

Watch | Auger-Aliassime advanced to his first ATP Masters final:

Auger-Aliassime advances to final at Madrid Open

Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic retired due to injury Friday in the opening set against Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semifinals at the Madrid Open.

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.

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