Basel Open 2022: Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Holger Rune Tennis Pick and Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2022 Basel Open as Felix Auger-Aliassime takes on Holger Rune in the final on Sunday, October 30th, 2022.

Two of the ATP’s in-form players during this indoor swing will vie to lift the Basel Open crown this Sunday. Will it be Felix Auger-Aliassime who completes a three-peat this month? Or will Holger Rune continue to punch above his weight as he seeks his third career title?

Felix Auger-Aliassime completely obliterated World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in their much-anticipated semifinal clash at the Basel Open. When the draw came out, the eyes of the tennis world were fixated on the projected last four showdown between the number one and number three seeds. Alcaraz, seeking for some redemption following his Davis Cup defeat to the Canadian, was first to blink as he got broken towards the end of the first set which was dominated by Auger-Aliassime. The Canadian continued to hold serve as he has done all week and punctured through the second set in routine fashion, playing some extraordinary shots behind the baseline.

Holger Rune, meanwhile, won an entertaining semifinal battle against Roberto Bautista Agut in two tiebreak sets. Rune, who clinched his second ATP title in Stockholm last week, has gone from strength to strength at the Basel Open as he knocked out the experienced Spaniard. The 19-year-old saved four set points in the second set tiebreak at 2-6 down as he showed the composure and nerves of steel that has defined his career-best season on the ATP Tour. Rune will now put his nine-match winning streak on the line against the in-form Auger-Aliassime.

Felix Auger-Aliassime and Holger Rune have not played each other on the ATP Tour. Sunday’s final at the Basel Open will be their first official meeting. It almost felt inevitable once the draw started to take shape in midweek that these two players would ultimately cross paths. And fittingly, they will do so in one of the most prestigious ATP 500 event. Auger-Aliassime continues to produce a serving masterclass with each passing round and he is yet to be broken this week. Rune, for his past, has won a lot of admirers with swashbuckling style and resilience. With the way Auger-Aliassime is sweeping the ball from one part of the court to the other, it will be tough for the young Dane to get any purchase on the return or his second shot. The Canadian should have the match in his racket. If he can execute as he has done in his last two tournaments, expect him to cross the finish line on Sunday.