In a dramatic turn of events at the ATP 500 tournament in Doha, Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime advanced to the semi-finals. The 24-year-old only had to complete a single set in each of his second-round and quarter-final matches, allowing him to conserve energy for the more challenging stages of the competition.
The day following his second-round match – where he received a walkover from an injured Hamad Medjedovic – Auger-Aliassime faced off against Russia’s Daniil Medvedev. The Canadian managed to claim the first set 6-3 in a swift 31 minutes. However, the match took an unexpected turn when Medvedev, citing illness, retired from the game without a customary handshake with his competitor or the chair umpire.
This victory marked Auger-Aliassime’s second win against Medvedev in their nine head-to-head encounters. The Canadian’s first triumph over the Russian powerhouse occurred at the 2024 Paris Olympics, thereby extending his winning streak.
The Canadian tennis star was taken aback by Medvedev’s sudden withdrawal, as he had not noticed anything amiss during their initial set. Auger-Aliassime displayed remarkable composure throughout the match, losing a mere point in his four service games and thus placing immense pressure on his opponent. Medvedev managed to keep up at the start, but soon his performance started to wane.
In the early stages of the match, Medvedev’s 2023 champion credentials were apparent. He held his own in the first game with a service winner, to which Auger-Aliassime responded with an ace, levelling the score at 1-1. Despite trailing 15-30 in the third game, the Russian fought back and capitalized on his rival’s error to secure a 2-1 lead.
However, the Canadian remained undeterred. Serving aces in the fourth and sixth games, he held his serve without losing a point. His aggressive return game in the seventh game was a turning point in the match.
Medvedev’s undoing came when he committed a double fault on a break point, falling behind 4-3. The ever-composed Auger-Aliassime capitalized on this momentum, landing a backhand crosscourt winner in the eighth game and continuing his aggressive return at 5-3, which forced Medvedev into making errors.
The Canadian secured the first set with a forehand winner, concluding the opener at 6-3. The match ended abruptly with Medvedev’s surprising retirement, allowing Auger-Aliassime to proceed to the semi-finals, where he will no doubt continue to showcase his formidable talent.
