Auger-Aliassime brushes aside Bublik to power into Rotterdam final

[p]The world number six hit 25 winners [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/auger-aliassime-f-CzXh4LAb/bublik-a-t0WN9vR6/?mid=xxe6CSXp"]in the match[/a] to sweep aside his Kazakh opponent and set up a final with top-seeded Australian, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-minaur-alex/EZgZ9Xfh/"]Alex de Minaur[/a].[/p][p][b]"It's tough to not be satisfied," said [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/auger-aliassime-felix/CzXh4LAb/"]Auger-Aliassime[/a], who was unplayable at times.[/b][/p][p][b]"I was striking the ball well from the beginning, and I never looked back, so it was a great match," added the 25-year-old.[/b][/p][embed guid="a4b186fa-42be-4fcd-b850-53e20a115ec1" url="https://x.com/atptour/status/2022758399696420925" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Canadian raced off to a flying start, breaking [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bublik-alexander/t0WN9vR6/"]Bublik[/a]'s first service game with a combination of fierce groundstrokes and stubborn defence.[/p][p]A Bublik double fault and netted forehand gifted Auger-Aliassime another break in the sixth game, leaving him to serve for the set at 5-1 up.[/p][p]Auger-Aliassime wrapped up the first set in just 25 minutes, finishing with his second ace to cap a near-flawless set of tennis, with 13 winners and just six errors.[/p][p]The second set started more competitively, going on serve until Auger-Aliassime grasped the initiative in the fifth game, pouncing on an ill-judged drop shot to break Bublik.[/p][p]Bublik was reduced to trying a playful underarm serve in his next service game, delighting the Rotterdam crowd, but he was again broken, and Auger-Aliassime served for the match.[/p][p]At match point, the Kazakh player dumped a lame backhand into the bottom of the net to gift Auger-Aliassime the contest and a chance to claim his second title in Rotterdam.[/p][p]The Canadian will face De Minaur in Sunday's showpiece after the Australian beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/humbert-ugo/O4ywE5Ah/"]Ugo Humbert[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/de-minaur-a-EZgZ9Xfh/humbert-u-O4ywE5Ah/?mid=E5AixTin"]6-3, 6-4[/a].[/p]