Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime marked his comeback on the court with a triumphant 6-3, 7-5 victory against Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas during the Cincinnati Open’s second-round match on Sunday. Despite being the second seed at the tournament, Auger-Aliassime faced challenges in the windy conditions during the second set, initially failing to close out the match at 5-4. However, he managed to break back in the subsequent game and eventually secured the win with a powerful ace on match point.
Reflecting on the match, Auger-Aliassime mentioned the difficult wind conditions that affected his serve, especially towards the end. He acknowledged the struggle but expressed satisfaction in overcoming the obstacles, considering his 40-day break from competitive play following Wimbledon and recent health issues. This victory was particularly meaningful for the 26-year-old given his past difficulties against Tsitsipas, with this win marking only his fourth triumph in their 11 encounters.
Looking ahead, Auger-Aliassime is set to face Juan Cerundolo from Argentina in the next round. Cerundolo, who upset the 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech of France in a thrilling match on Sunday, holds a 1-2 record against Auger-Aliassime. Meanwhile, in the women’s category, Chinese qualifier Xiyu Wang defeated 30th-seeded Leylah Fernandez from Laval, Que., in a hard-fought battle lasting over two hours. Wang’s strong performance, characterized by 23 winners and consistent play, proved too much for Fernandez, who struggled with unforced errors and double faults despite her recent success at the National Bank Open in Toronto.