(Rotterdam) Montrealer Félix Auger-Aliassime lost to Russian Daniil Medvedev in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the Rotterdam Tennis Tournament on Friday.

Defending a title for the first time in his career, Auger-Aliassime offered an erratic performance and lost after one hour 23 minutes of action.

Usually incisive on serve, especially on hard courts and inside, Auger Aliassime got just one ace and three double faults.

He also only hit 50% of his first serves and committed 28 unforced errors — 16 more than his opponent — compared to 12 winners.

During the match, he faced seven break points and saved only three. Auger-Aliassime converted just one of his three break points in the fourth game of the second set, immediately after conceding a break himself.

“Today’s match was my best of the week, but I have to build from there,” Medvedev said in an interview posted on the ATP official website.

“Usually on your best weeks you often play your best tennis in the last game, and that’s definitely a goal. But I’m happy with my level of play today, to have beaten someone like Félix in straight sets. »

Eighth player in the world, the Montrealer began the duel by winning the first six points on his serve before seeing Medvedev steal three consecutive points and offer himself the first opportunity to break the match, in the third game.

Auger-Aliassime resisted but Medvedev got two more chances to break the Quebecer’s serve in the fifth game. Auger-Aliassime saved the first with a backhand volley, but not the second when he sent a forehand over the baseline.

Medvedev, ranked 11^e at ATP, widened the gap to 5-2 in the first set with another break in the seventh game, when an Auger-Aliassime crossover forehand hit the top of the net before falling into the corridor of double.

After being limited to two points in Medvedev’s three games on his serve, Auger-Aliassime came back to life by giving himself two break points in the eighth game.

The Russian erased them before scoring an ace to give himself a first set point. A direct error from the Montrealer then put an end to this first set, in 36 minutes.

Medvedev scored the decisive break in the seventh game of the second set when Auger-Aliassime attempted a parallel forehand that landed in the middle of the doubles lane.

The Russian then took a 4-3 lead.

The duel ended when Auger-Aliassime sent a backhand from beyond the baseline to the Russian’s first match point.

For Medvedev, it was a fifth victory in as many confrontations against the Quebecer.

In Saturday’s semi-final, Medvedev will face Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, who eliminated Australian Alex De Minaur in straight sets 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (6).

Later Friday, in the other quarter-final matches, Italian Jannik Sinner will face Swiss veteran Stanislas Wawrinka while Dutchman Gijs Brouwer will face his compatriot Tallon Griekspoor.