Friday was a tough day for the Canadians at the Mutua Madrid Open. Both Canucks in action, Félix Auger-Aliassime and Bianca Andreescu, were eliminated from the 1000-level event in the second round with straight-set losses.
Auger-Aliassime was contesting his first match of the tournament but was bested by Juan Manuel Cerundolo, while Andreescu, who beat McCartney Kessler in round one, fell at the hands of world No. 11 Elena Rybakina.
During the 2024 Madrid Open, it felt like everything was breaking Auger-Aliassime's way. Not such much in 2025. After reaching the final a year ago, the Canadian was unable to pick up a single set in the Spanish capital this time around. It was his fourth opening-match loss in his last five tournaments and he has yet to win a match on clay this year.
Just a couple of key points made the difference in the second-round clash, but they all seemed to go to the Argentine. Cerundolo was the better of the two at taking his chances in the big moments and was rewarded with a 7-6(5), 6-4 win.
Despite a strong serving performance, putting 75 per cent of his first serves in play and winning over 70 per cent of points on both his first and second serves, errors cost Auger-Aliassime big time as he had 39 unforced, more than double Cerundolo, to just 30 winners. He also failed to convert a break point.
After saving a trio of break points in his opening service game, Auger-Aliassime settled in and had a chance to take control of the opening set when he led love-40 on Cerundolo’s serve at 3-3. Back-to-back errors from the Canadian followed by an ace erased the three break points. The Argentine pulled out an impressive lob to save a fourth in the game before going on to hold.
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Auger-Aliassime saved a set point on his serve at 4-5 before the set eventually went to a tiebreak. Cerundolo got a minibreak for a quick 2-0 lead but the Canadian reeled him back in to 3-3. There, Auger-Aliassime netted a smash to give the minibreak back to the Argentine which proved decisive. The rest of the tiebreak would go the way of the server, with Cerundolo hanging on to take it 7-5.
At 1-1 in the second set on his own serve, Auger-Aliassime committed three straight unforced errors to put himself down love-40. He saved the first break point with some big hitting, but a spectacular on-the-run forehand winner from Cerundolo on the second off a huge swinging forehand volley from the Canadian gave the Argentine the first and ultimately only break of the day.
The Canadian shored up his serve after surrendering the break, not losing another point on his delivery the rest of the way. However, he never managed to reclaim the break. His only chance game as Cerundolo served for the match at 5-4, but the Argentine conjured up another impressive forehand winner to save a break point before going on to serve it out.
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As a result of losing most of his 600 points as the 2024 runner-up in Madrid, Auger-Aliassime is now projected to fall out of the Top 25 in the ATP rankings.
Gabriel Diallo and Denis Shapovalov will both play their second-round matches in Madrid on Saturday.
Andreescu Overpowered by Rybakina
Bianca Andreescu’s first-round win over McCartney Kessler was her first match win of the year, but she faced much stiffer opposition in the form of Elena Rybakina in round two. The former Wimbledon champion proved too strong for the Canadian on Friday night, claiming a 6-3, 6-2 win.
Rybakina kept Andreescu under constant pressure, creating nine break points and converting three of them. Adding to the challenge for the Canadian was a strong serving performance by the world No. 11, who won 80 per cent of her first serve points and saved all three break points she faced.
It did not take long for Rybakina to find her range and start causing problems for the Canadian. Her deep hitting set up a break point in Andreescu’s opening service game, although she sent her return long.
For the most part, it was the world No. 11 controlling the rallies and Andreescu struggled to find ways to break Rybakina’s rhythm. At 3-4, the Kazakhstani’s big hitting got her another look at a break point, this time up 15-40, and on the second she lasered a backhand winner to secure the break. In the next game, she served out the set to love.
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Andreescu found herself battling to stay afloat in the opening game of the second set as Rybakina continued to pile on the pressure. The Canadian faced a slew of break points and, while she managed to conjure up some big serves to save the first four, she netted a forehand on the fifth to give the early advantage to her opponent.
With the way Rybakina was serving, one break already seemed like a huge mountain for Andreescu to climb. But it got worse as, at 1-3, another forehand into the net gave the Kazakhstani a chance to make it a double break and Rybakina blasted a forehand winner to go up 4-1.
The Canadian did not go away quietly. In the following game, Andreescu finally had her first chance to break the world No. 11’s serve, but she netted her return. When Rybakina served for the match at 5-2, Andreescu saved a couple of match points and had two looks to break, but the Kazakhstani did what she does best, delivering a couple of big serves to save the break points, ultimately converting her fourth match point.
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With Andreescu’s loss, there are no Canadian women left in the singles draw in Madrid. Leylah Annie Fernandez and Gabriela Dabrowski are both competing in doubles.
Feature Photo : Martin Sidorjak
