Rune, Defending Champion Auger-Aliassime Win 3rd Set Breakers To Reach Basel SFs; Hurkacz Alive

Holger Rune and Felix Auger-Aliassime set up a semifinal showdown in Basel after scoring tight final set breaker wins on Friday.

The top-seeded Rune edged Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(8-6). Rune saved multiple break points in the third and then missed his first two match points up 6-4 in the breaker.

“It was super difficult and Tomas has played great all tournament and had a super season. It was a fun match to play,” Rune said to the ATP. “I was super lucky at the end, I have never had as much luck in my life. Of course I am happy to win but I feel for him as I know how it feels myself when these kind of things happen. I am happy with my level. It was a tough match physically, so I am proud of myself.”

Defending champion Auger-Aliassime won his own thriller over Russia’s Alexander Shevchenko 7-6(7-2), 3-6, 7-6(7-1).

The 22-year-old Shevchenko broke at 4-all would have a match point on serve at 5-4, 40-30.

“I don’t want to say [I’m back] yet, but I’m on my way back and this is a crucial win. It’s amazing to get through a match like this,” Auger-Aliassime said. “To be able to come back and recover, that’s big for me.”

Fourth-seeded Hubert Hurkacz kept on Rune’s tail in the Turin race defeating Tallon Griekspoor 6-7(6-8), 6-4, 6-4. He’ll now meet France’s Ugo Humbert who beat the Swiss Dominic Stricker 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.

Tomorrow, Rune leads Auger-Aliassime 2-1 winning last month in Beijing. Both have been struggling of late.

Hurkacz beat Humbert in 2022 Halle in their only meeting.

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