Stefanos 'Growing An Important Rivalry With Felix'
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Felix Auger-Aliassime agree their tension-filled quarter-final under the lights in Acapulco could be the match that has raised the bar in a burgeoning rivalry. The top-seeded Greek claimed the honours in a high-quality two-hour, five-minute clash at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC on Thursday night.
But the #NextGenATP Canadian showed more than enough to suggest this showdown would become a more frequent tour-level mainstay. Tsitsipas advanced to the semi-finals 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, a result he would look back upon fondly in years to come.
“It was a high-intensity match from both sides. We both played incredible tennis,” Tsitsipas said. “Generally I think I learnt from it. It’s a good match to have on my portfolio. It’s a good match to have in my ATP Tour history and growing an important rivalry with Felix with many more to come like this.”
[WATCH LIVE 2]Auger-Aliassime could do little against an opponent who played clutch under pressure at 3-all, 0/30 in the deciding set, but he was left to rue back-to-back double faults, which conceded his serve in the proceeding game. It allowed the Greek to serve out the contest as he took the third straight victory from their five ATP Head2Head encounters.
“I think it’s one of the best matches we’ve played,” Auger-Aliassime said. “I think the last four times it was straightforward my way or his way.
“This time around we played three sets and honestly there was everything in the match… Yeah it’s always a big challenge to play him. I try to bring my best tennis against Stefanos, the intensity is always really high.
“I feel like I’m at a similar level as him. Some days it goes on his side, some days on mine, so hopefully next time I get my chance and take it.”
Despite being two years his opponent’s senior, the 22-year-old Tsitsipas said this was a rivalry, which began well back in the pair’s junior days. He was adamant it would extend well into both player’s futures given both were in the early stages of their careers.
“Yes I think it would [become a great rivalry],” Tsitsipas said. “I think there is plenty of [time for] both of us left on tour, which means we’re definitely going to face each many more times and it’s important for our sport.
“It’s important we both share our own personalities and our own style of game, which adds so much to this game. I also think it’s important to have players like him that are very disciplined and very good at what they do, very calm on court.”