Felix Auger-Aliassime will compete in his first Masters 1000 final in Madrid. In a battle for a place in the final, Felix faced the first-time Masters 1000 semi-finalist Jiri Lehecka and moved over the top after six and a half games. The young Czech retired due to a lower back injury, ending his campaign in tears and sending the Canadian through. Auger-Aliassime needed six triumphs to advance into the final. He defeated three rivals and received a walkover from Jannik Sinner and two retirements, setting the title clash versus Andrey Rublev. Felix produced three fine holds and wasted a break chance in game three. Jiri tried to extend the battle and recover, although he had to retire after three points of the seventh game.
Jiri Lehecka & Felix Auger-Aliassime, Madrid 2024© Julian Finney / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Felix Auger-Aliassime will seek his first Masters 1000 title in Madrid.
Lehecka made a reliable start and forced Auger-Aliassime’s mistake in the opening game of the encounter for a hold at love. Felix created three game points in game two with a forehand winner and closed it with an ace for 1-1. Struggling with his movement, the Czech sprayed a backhand error in the third game and offered the Canadian a break chance. He denied it with a powerful serve and held after Felix’s loose backhand to open a 2-1 gap. Auger-Aliassime landed a service winner in the fourth game, holding at 30 and leveling the score at 2-2. Jiri produced a fine hold in the fifth game, firing service winners and building another advantage. However, he showed more signs of discomfort at the beginning of the sixth game before Auger-Aliassime held at love with an ace.
Felix Auger-Aliassime, Madrid 2024© Julian Finney / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Jiri took a medical timeout outside the court and moved 30-0 in front in the seventh game after a service winner. Still, he had to retire after the third point, sending his rival into the final and ending the tournament in the worst way after a great run and his career-best Masters 1000 result. In the fourth round, Lehecka met the king of clay Rafael Nadal and scored a 7-5, 6-4 victory in two hours and one minute. The Czech played well, facing only one break point and stealing the Spaniard’s serve at the end of the opener and beginning of the second set. Jiri skipped the quarter-final round, with Jannik Sinner withdrawing due to hip issues. Despite a couple of days off the court, Lehecka felt the pain against Auger-Aliassime, missing a chance to fight for his first Masters 1000 final.
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