Second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime proved a step too far for lucky loser Hamad Medjedovic, securing a straight-sets victory in the opening match of the afternoon session on Centre Court at the Rotterdam ATP 500.
First Set: One Break Makes the Difference
Medjedovic entered the match with confidence after his win over Zizou Bergs, but faced an immediate test against the Canadian’s aggressive returning.
Auger-Aliassime attacked Medjedovic’s serve early, earning three break points in the opening game before converting the third to move ahead 1–0. That single lapse proved decisive. For the remainder of the set, both players held serve confidently, with no further break opportunities created.
Despite Medjedovic producing a strong level throughout the set, the early break allowed Auger-Aliassime to maintain control and close out the opener.
Second Set: Missed Chances Cost Medjedovic
Medjedovic began the second set with greater focus and energy. At 3–2, he earned his first break point of the match, but was unable to convert.
The critical moment came at 4–4. Serving at 40–0, Medjedovic stood just one point away from moving ahead, but a sudden dip in concentration proved costly. Auger-Aliassime reeled off five consecutive points to secure the break.
Serving for the match, the Canadian remained composed, holding comfortably to seal the victory.
Fine Margins Decide a Tight Contest
Statistically, the match was closely contested. Both players finished with 18 winners, highlighting the balance in attacking play.
The difference came in unforced errors, with Medjedovic committing 25 compared to Auger-Aliassime’s 19. Auger-Aliassime also held a slight edge in points won on both serve and return, which ultimately proved decisive.
While Medjedovic’s run comes to an end, his performances in Rotterdam — including his entry as a lucky loser — represent a positive step forward.
Auger-Aliassime’s progression adds further clarity to the quarterfinal bracket — explore the updated matchups in the complete Rotterdam ATP 500 main draw