With in the role of the outsider, the Bondynois Quentin Halys, 142nd in the world. On the other side of the net, Roman Safiullin did not come to Pau to joke. A week after his semi-final at the ATP 250 in Marseille, where he only lost to Felix Auger-Aliassime, 9th in the world in two tie-breaks after dominating Tsitsipas (4th) in the previous round, the Russian has shown since Tuesday and his success full of pep against Tsonga a solidity which made him the logical favorite in the final timpani.
It was without counting on the strike force of Quentin Halys who recovered from a break conceded in the first set to win this first round in the tie-break, and who did not mentally sink when Safiullin to pick up at 4 everywhere in the third set while the Frenchman seemed to have done the hardest by leading 4-2.
Carried by a public won over to his cause, Quentin Halys found the resources necessary to repel the attacks one last time while in control of his opponent. It was on a final break and a fourth match point that deliverance came. After 2h13 of a merciless struggle, Halys, very solid in the exchange, could scream his joy at being the first tricolor to qualify for the TOPP final. With still the feeling that the work was not finished with a last step which can offer him a fourth title in Challenger.
This Sunday, 3 p.m., the final will oppose the two best servers of the week: 59 aces to 36 in favor of Halys, but 86% of points gained for Pospisil behind his first ball. The yellow felt will suffer between the seeded number 7 (Halys) and 8 (Pospisil) of the table.
Quentin Halys : “It was a big battle. Safiullin attacked very hard with almost only winning shots. My level didn’t really change from start to finish, his fluctuated a bit more. I have opportunities at the beginning of the 2nd set to make the break but he only spent the first. Me, I stayed in what I had to do on the serve and on the return. A big battle but I feel good, it will be fine for tomorrow. »
“Now in the final I think Vasek serves a little better than Safiullin, probably returns a little worse too. It’s going to be a big server match. We are both very confident, it will not be played out very much, we will have to seize the slightest opportunity. »
“I just learned that I was the first French in the final here, it’s cool, it’s nice, I’m very happy for Jerem (Chardy) and Audrey (Roustan) who have been organizing a great tournament for several years. I can’t wait to be in the final, in front of this public who supported me a lot. On a Challenger, such support is quite rare. When it’s hot, the help of the public is invaluable. It is also for these moments that we play. »
