FAA unleashes ace attack to tame Lehecka

Felix Auger-Aliassime finished with his 16th ace on match point to defeat Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 7-6 (2) on Friday to line up in the semi-finals at the ATP Dubai event against Daniil Medvedev.

The Canadian top seed admitted the combative second set was the day’s real challenge, with his Czech opponent saving four break points in the eighth game to hold for 4-all

As the set went into a tiebreaker. No. 8 Auger-Aliassime stepped up his game against an opponent plagued by 41 unforced errors overall, running out a 6-2 lead in the decider.

FAA rained down his concluding ac to end it in just under two hours with 25 winners and 24 unforced errors.

“My serve worked great,” the winner said. “It was difficult conditions, full shade in the first (afternoon) set, then the second set with the lights on.

“I was able to mix it up on serve and it paid off. I’m trying to live up to some good (tennis) standards.”

The Canadian will play on Friday for a spot in the final as he takes on familiar face Daniil Medvedev after the former champion here beat Jensen Brooksby with the loss of just three games, taking less than an hour. 

Medvedev won his first seven matches in the series dating to 2018 before FAA claimed their last two at the Paris Olympics and Doha a year ago.

“We play opposing styles,” Auger-Aliassime said. “I come forward, he tries to make me miss.

“It took me seven or eight times to finally beat him. He’s a tough guy, one of the best of our generation.”

Auger-Aliassime has been on a tear this month since exiting in the Australian Open first round.

He picked up the title in Montpellier before playing the Rotterdam final. Dubai will be his third straight Tour semi-final.