Auger-Aliassime backs up Federer stunner, joins Rublev in Halle semifinals

Félix Auger-Aliassime backed up his milestone victory over Roger Federer by reaching a second straight grass-court semifinal at the Noventi Open, knocking out Marcus Giron, 6-3, 6-2.

The 20-year-old played impeccable tennis to outlast the 20-time Grand Slam champion on Wednesday, and remains in hot pursuit of an elusive first ATP title after a 58-minute victory on Arena court.

Auger-Aliassime has long been tagged as Next Gen’s one to watch, but weathered a dreary clay-court season that had begun on a head-turning note when he added Toni Nadal to his coaching team.

The Canadian snapped a three-match losing streak—one that included an opening-round exit in Paris—in Stuttgart, where he reached his eighth career ATP final. Looking to at last break that duck in Halle, the unseeded Auger-Aliassime enjoyed a bright start against Giron, a former college standout who is in the midst of a career breakthrough at 27 with a run to the third round of Roland Garros.

Saving a break point on serve, Auger-Aliassime turned right around to score the lone break of the opening set, and soon was ahead 5-1 in the second.

Though Giron, a former NCAA champion, held off the inevitable with a service hold the Canadian wouldn’t be denied as he converted match point with a big serve of his own.

In all, he struck 25 winners—nine off the forehand side—to just seven unforced errors while winning all three break point opportunities engineered over two sets.

Into his third semifinal of the season, Auger-Aliassime will next face Frenchman Ugo Humbert, who backed up his own upset Alexander Zverev with a 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-4 win over American youngster Sebastian Korda.

Around the Grounds…

Earlier in the day, No. 4 seed Andrey Rublev was first into the final four when he overcame Philipp Kohlschreiber, 7-6 (4), 6-2.

The 37-year-old German veteran reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2012 and is a former champion in Halle, but Rublev, who is playing just his fourth career ATP main draw on grass, is slowly recapturing the form that took him into the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters final.

The 23-year-old Russian is yet to drop a set in Halle and will next face Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basiliashvili, who defeated South African Lloyd Harris in straight sets.