ADELAIDE: Felix Auger-Eliasime needed four match points and nearly three hours to beat Tommy Paul 7-6 (7/3), 3-6, 6-4 and reach the Adelaide International final on Friday.
At the Australian Open, it was the Canadian’s 16th final and one win away from a sixth title. He will face second seed Sebastián Korda, who defeated Serbian Miomir Kekmanovic 6-4, 7-6 (7/4).
Paul’s defeat prevented the American from finishing in the top 10 for the first time in his career. The semi-final with Auger-Aliasime was marred by more than 90 unforced errors, while Paul won six of the last seven games in the second set as the Canadian failed to win in straight sets.
“I’ll try and get fit for the final now,” Auger-Aliasime said. “The match was about physical and mental effort. There were many ups and downs. “It wasn’t the best level from either of us, but sometimes matches are like that, you have to find a way.”