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He is only 18, but he is already rewriting the history books of the Miami Open presented by Itau. Canadian Felix Auger-Alibadime #NextGenAT became Wednesday the youngest Miami semifinalist of 35 years in the history of the tournament.
The qualifier, which played in an event on the ATP Challenger Tour two months ago, beat 11th Croatian seed Borna Coric of Croatia, 7-6 (3), 6-2, will host a match for the final against defending champion John Isner. The American beat the Novak Djokovic conqueror, Roberto Bautista Agut, of Spain 7-6 (1), 7-6 (5).
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No. 9 Isner will try to break Auger-Alibadime's winning streak against Top 20. The Canadiens have played five games against Top 20 ATP players, and he has won all five.
The teenager was already the youngest quarter-finalist in the history of Miami since Andy Roddick, 18, in 2001 and the first player born in the 2000s to qualify for a quarterfinal of the year. ATP Masters 1000. But now he is alone at the Masters 1000 event.
Auger-Alibadime, however, is far from being the only #NextGenATP player to make noise in South Florida. Compatriot Denis Shapovalov, 19, and 21-year-old American Tiafoe of the United States, will compete for another spot in the semifinal on Thursday afternoon.
The last time two teenagers reached the quarterfinals or better in Miami, it was in 2007 with Novak Djokovic (win) and Andy Murray (QF), both 19 years old.
Adolescents must reach QF or better at Miami Open History (since 1985)
Coric was playing his sixth quarterfinal of the ATP Masters 1000 and Auger-Alibadime, his first, but the Canadian was more in balance and in control. Both teams exchanged basic exchanges throughout the opening match. Auger-Alibadime often took matters into his own hands.
But Coric, who participated in the final of the Rolex Shanghai Masters last October (in Djokovic), stayed with Auger-Alibadime until the decisive encounter, where he defeated himself. Coric doubled a foul for the first time in the game and missed a setback on the set point.
Read more: Felix's Philosophy: "I'm not afraid of losing | Read and watch: Get to know Auger-Alibadime and his family
The second set reflected the decisive game, Coric, who had 16 winners out of 38 straight fouls, was broken at the start of the set when he threw a setback in the goal. Auger-Alibadime broke once again to find himself in the last four.
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Auger-Alibadime is expected to be in the top 35 of the ATP rankings on Monday, when the new ranking is published.
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