Felix Auger-Aliassime will have to wait for his first ATP Tour title.
The 19-year-old Montreal native lost in straight sets to Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final of the Open 13 Provence on Sunday, extending Auger-Aliassime's career record in finals to 0-5. Contrary to the previous meeting between the two players, Sunday's match was a decidedly one-sided affair.
Tsitsipas, the 21-year-old world No. 6 who also won the Open 13 last year, was comfortable and in control throughout. The Athens native hit four aces and no double faults against Auger-Aliassime, breaking the young Canadian's serve three times on nine opportunities.
MORE: Milos Raonic reaches Delray Beach semifinals
Tsitsipas won 78 percent of his first serves (compared to 66 percent for Auger-Aliassime) as he rolled to the 6-3, 6-4 victory and his fifth career title.
MARSEILLE DEFENDED 🏰@StefTsitsipas retains a title for the first time in his career, beating Auger-Aliassime 6-3 6-4 to win the @Open13 for a second consecutive year! pic.twitter.com/baR2zMk5C8
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 23, 2020
For Auger-Aliassime, the Open 13 stands alongside Rotterdam, Rio, Lyon and Stuttgart as tournaments in which he went the distance without claiming the championship.
”I feel disappointed. You never like losing finals, but now it has been five so it is in my mind,” Auger-Aliassime said, as quoted by ATPTour.com. “It is tough, but I think it is just going to make me a better player.
”It is going to build my character and I am going to overcome this challenge one day. I’ll keep working towards that goal. I am working to win bigger tournaments and to achieve even better things, so I am not going to stop here.”
Despite the sting of losing another final, world No. 18 Auger-Aliassime continues to have an impressive start to 2020, with two finals appearances along with a semifinal and quarterfinal plateau thus far.