Atlanta, USA, 28 July 2019 | AAP / tennis.com.au

Australian Alex de Minaur is battling towards a second career ATP title, recording a three-set win over American Reilly Opelka in the Atlanta Open semifinals on Saturday.

The Australian No.1 beat the American 7-6(4) 6-7(5) 6-3 in the Georgian state capital on Saturday and will play Taylor Fritz in Sunday’s final.

https://twitter.com/BBTatlantaopen/status/1155236875378053120?s=20

Fritz beat Brit Cameron Norrie 6-1 3-6 6-3 in the second semifinal.

If he wins, De Minaur will claim his second career-title after his Sydney International victory earlier this year.

Interestingly, De Minaur also beat Opelka en route to the Sydney title, with history possibly repeating this week on the hard courts of the ATP 250-level event.

It’s been an impressive return to form for De Minaur, who had not won back-to-back matches since the Australian Open and who had struggled with a groin injury in the first half of the year.

Although Opelka struck 28 aces, De Minaur himself did not face a break point and at 20 years of age becomes the youngest Atlanta finalist in the tournament’s history.

“Reilly is an incredible competitor, a super tough guy to play and a great friend,” De Minaur said in a court-side interview.

“It’s a bit of a lottery out here. I just had to guess the right way (when returning) on a couple (of) big points and I was fortunate to get the win today.”