Felix Auger-Aliassime Successfully Defends ATP Basel Title After Tough Year

Summary

• Felix Auger-Aliassime defeated Hubert Hurkacz at the Swiss Indoors Basel final
• Auger-Aliassime has had a poor run in 2023 but successfully defended his title at the ATP 500 final
• He becomes the first Canadian player to defend an ATP title since Milos Raonic did it in 2011 and 2012

Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime has had a bad run in 2023 when compared to his usual standards and the expectations of Canadian fans.

The talented 23 year old who once went up as high as number 6 in the world rankings has struggled to find his form in 2023 and went into the 2023 Swiss Indoors Basel tournament having won 17 matches out of the 35 matches he played this year.

First Canadian Since Raonic To Retain A Title 

Auger-Aliassime only managed to reach one semi-final this year and that was in Doha. However, he came into the Swiss Indoors Basel tournament with a lot more confidence because he won the tennis tournament in 2022 when he defeated Holger Rune 6–3, 7–5.

Auger-Aliassime who hails from Montreal ended up playing well throughout the tournament and made it to the final where he took on Hubert Hurkacz from Poland who was the betting favourite since he was ranked 11^th in the world and Auger-Aliassime came in ranked 19^th.

It was a closely contested match that ended up going into the tie-break in both sets which Auger-Aliassime managed to win. He ended up defeating Hurkacz 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5) to successfully defend his Swiss Indoors Basel title and win his first ATP 500 title in 2023.

He has now become the first Canadian tennis player to successfully defend his ATP title since 2011 and 2012 when Milos Raonic defended his San Jose championships.

Auger-Aliassime Confident Of Regaining Top Form 

One of the reasons Auger-Aliassime has struggled this season is because he has had to battle different injuries and overcome them.

I’m back.
Back 2 back in Basel feels extra special after this year 😄🏆🇨🇭

Wishing the best to @HubertHurkacz for next week and all the weeks coming🙌🏽 You deserve everything that comes your way

📸: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP pic.twitter.com/YtjzhZRUn3

— Félix AugerAliassime (@felixtennis) October 29, 2023

This win at the Swiss Indoors Basel tournament has given him a much needed boost of confidence which was reflected in his post-match interview.

In an interview, he said

I’m definitely back. I let my racquet talk. That’s always been the motto of my career. I’ve had the conviction that I can be a top player since I’m a kid, but there were many doubts this year about my performances and why. I’m happy that I was able to prove to everybody that I still belong among the best players in the world, that I can play this level. I never doubted it, but it’s good to confirm it on the court.