CA – MARCH 7: Images of match winner Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada and Cameron Norrie of Great Britain in action at the BNP Paribas Open held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 7
Félix Auger-Aliassime got off to an ideal start at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie. Playing on a sun-drenched Stadium 1 court, the 18-year-old put on a ruthless display as he booked his ticket to the second round of the tournament, where he will face ninth-seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Auger-Aliassime, ranked 58th, got off to a storming start, breaking Norrie, ranked 48th, with a powerful forehand and holding his own serve twice to take an early 3-0 lead. The Canadian then faced a break point in the seventh game but saw off the challenge with relative ease, relying on his booming serve to slam the door shut on his left-handed opponent.
First Set: @felixtennis 6-3 👊
The #NextGenATP 🇨🇦 takes the opener to lead Cameron Norrie on Stadium 1 at the @BNPPARIBASOPEN. #BNPPO19 pic.twitter.com/0TGbrOabCw
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 7, 2019
Having claimed the first set 6-3, Auger-Aliassime refused to take his foot off the gas. Taking a 40-0 lead on Norrie’s second service game of the second set, the Montreal-native gobbled up the break point to assert an early advantage, which would prove crucial.
Gently does it, @felixtennis 👌#BNPPO19 pic.twitter.com/w35D86T63w
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 7, 2019
Norrie looked to throw a spanner in the works by crafting his second break point opportunity of the match midway through the second set, but Auger-Aliassime was equal to it once again and held his serve. Despite the Brit’s best attempts to make some sort of inroad into the match, the Canadian just wouldn’t let up as he broke Norrie again to take a 5-2 lead. Serving for the win, Auger-Aliassime was dominant as he claimed the final game without dropping a single point.
BOOM.
Composed, professional, and utterly dominant performance from Félix Auger-Aliassime to defeat Cameron Norrie and advance to the #BNPPO second round for the second time.
Fellow #NextGenATP’er Tsitsipas awaits. 🍿
— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) March 7, 2019
Now, the young Canadian will take on Stefanos Tsitsipas in the next round. The 20-year-old made headlines recently in becoming the first Greek player to break into the world’s Top 10 following his appearance in the final of the Dubai Championships, where he was beaten by Roger Federer, who claimed his 100th title. Although it will be their first professional meeting, Auger-Aliassime’s last clash with Tsitsipas came in the semi-finals of the junior US Open back in 2016, with the Montreal-native coming out on top before securing the title one round later.
(Feature photo: Peter Staples/ATP Tour)
