Felix Auger-Aliassime has a very difficult task at the 2023 Rotterdam Open as he has to defend his title, but the draw is full of star names.
The third-seeded Canadian started with an impressive win over Lorenzo Sonego in the first round, and he faced off against a qualifier Gregoire Barrere in the second, as the Frenchman stunned David Goffin on Monday.
The likes of Stefanos Tsitsipas, Holger Rune, and Daniil Medvedev are still in play at the 2023 Rotterdam Open, and it can be the former world no. 1 from Russia, who Auger-Aliassime can face in the next round.
The Canadian showed his impressive serving in the first set, but he couldn't avoid being broken, despite hitting six aces. However, since he broke his opponent two times, it was enough for him to win the first set 6-4 in 38 minutes and continue his streak of won sets in the Rotterdam Ahoy Arena.
In the second set, it was Barrere who had a first break point of the set. But Auger-Aliassime didn't allow to be broken this time and the scoreboard soon showed 3-3 in the second set as both players held their serves.
But then, Auger-Aliassime showed his extra class and won twelve our of the following 14 points, to win the match 6-4, 6-3 in an hour and 24 minutes and book a semifinal spot, where he will await the sixth-seeded Medvedev or Botic Van De Zandschulp.