By Canadian Press

Canadians Auger-Aliassime, Raonic set to square off in Stuttgart semis

Jun 14, 2019 | 10:00 AM

STUTTGART, Germany — Felix Auger-Aliassime will face Milos Raonic in an all-Canadian semifinal at the Stuttgart Open.

Auger-Aliassime, the No. 7 seed from Montreal, and Raonic, the No. 6 seed from Thornhill, Ont., both won quarterfinal matchups at the ATP Tour 250 grass-court event on Friday to set up their second career meeting on Saturday.

The 28-year-old Raonic beat world No. 52 Marton Fucsovics of Hungary 6-4, 6-4, while the 18-year-old Auger-Aliassime outlasted German qualifier Dustin Brown 7-6 (3), 6-7 (2), 7-6 (2).

Raonic beat Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-4 last year on a hard-court in Indian Wells, Calif., but that was before the teenager rocketed up the rankings to a career-high No. 21 this week. Raonic is just ahead at No. 18.

“It’ll be a tough match,” Raonic said. “He’s been playing well these first six months. Hopefully I can have a chance to find the solution to the Felix problem.”

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat and area: Dec. 13-15

Dec 14, 2024

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

Dec 12, 2024

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

Dec 12, 2024

The Auger-Aliassime-Brown match lasted just over two hours 28 minutes.

The 170th-ranked Brown, who is best known for beating Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2015, upset top-seeded Alexander Zverev on Thursday.

Auger-Aliassime, 18, won 83 per cent of his points on first serve, as compared to 69 per cent for Brown. The Canadian saved one match point en route to victory and recorded a career-high 30 aces.

Auger-Aliassime, into his fourth semifinal this year, is the youngest player to reach the semis or better on three different surfaces in a season since Lleyton Hewitt in 1999. 

Raonic, playing his first tournament since suffering a knee injury in March, had 12 aces and won 89 per cent of his points on first serve.

Raonic was the runner-up in Stuttgart last year and has had his best Grand Slam results on the grass at Wimbledon, reaching the quarterfinals the past two years and the final in 2016.

“It helps me out a lot,” Raonic said of the surface. “I’ve played really well on it the last four, five years. It’s a part of the season I really look forward to.”

Auger-Aliassime also is returning from injury as a left abductor problem forced him to miss the French Open.

The other semifinal pits Matteo Berrettini of Italy against German Jan-Lennard Struff.

In doubles play, Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., has advanced to the semis. The Canadian and partner Rohan Bopanna of India will face Australians Nick Kyrgios and Matt Reid on Saturday.

The Canadian Press