Félix Auger-Aliassime’s time on the dirt came to an end in the first round of Roland-Garros, losing 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 2-6 to world No. 36 Matteo Arnaldi on Tuesday.
After four-straight losses to begin the clay season, the Montreal-native made the semifinal in Hamburg but couldn’t carry over that form into the French Open after a strong start to his opening match.
The Canadian No. 1 won 90 per cent of his first-serve points in the first two sets. However, Arnaldi held 17 break points in the final three sets, converting on five. Auger-Aliassime looked to have been dealing with an ankle injury halfway through the match, taking two medical timeouts.
Auger-Aliassime had a strong opening service game, firing two of his eight aces in the match. The Canadian then had an opportunity for an early edge but let three break points slip away as Arnaldi held.
At 5-5, the 24-year-old held his sixth break point of the first set. Auger-Aliassime went on the attack early and forced the Italian to send his forehand long, allowing the world No. 27 to serve for the set.
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Auger-Aliassime continued his dominance on serve, not dropping a point in the twelfth game to take the set. The Canadian won 89 per cent of his first-serve points in the opener.
The Montreal-native carried that momentum into the second set, winning eight straight points to go up a break early. That lead soon turned to 4-0 as Auger-Aliassime showed no signs of slowing down.
In the seventh game, the former world No. 6 held three set points but Arnaldi was able to battle to hold.
At 40-15 in the ensuing game, the Canadian fired an unreturnable serve to wrap up the set in a little over half an hour. Auger-Aliassime only dropped two points on serve in an impressive second set.
In between sets, a shirt change from Arnaldi may have been the switch the 24-year-old needed. The Italian was broken early again but broke back, partially thanks to a pair of Auger-Aliassime double faults.
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In the fourth game, Arnaldi showed his brilliance on defence at deuce. The world No. 36 hit a tweener to hold an advantage before scrambling to eventually break for the second-straight time and lead 3-1.
At 5-3, Arnaldi closed out the set with one of his 46 winners in the match.
Auger-Aliassime called for a medical timeout prior to the start of the fourth set. The Montreal-native had his left ankle wrapped and was able to continue after ten minutes.
The injury didn’t look to faze the Canadian as Auger-Aliassime saved two break points in the first game to hold.
Later at 3-3, Auger-Aliassime was faced with three break points. After saving one, the 24-year-old committed one of his 55 unforced errors at 15-40 to hand Arnaldi the break. The Italian then held after an over-eight-minute game.
Later serving for the set, Arnaldi fired an ace to send the match to a decisive set. Auger-Aliassime needed medical attention on his ankle once again in between sets but the Canadian continued.
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In the third game, Auger-Aliassime turned love-40 into 30-40 but couldn’t handle an Arnaldi forehand at the net as the Italian No. 5 secured the valuable break.
Auger-Aliassime had a chance at a break of his own at 15-40 in the sixth game, however, the Italian won the next four points for the vital hold. After another Arnaldi break in the following game, the Madrid Open quarter-finalist had an opportunity to serve for the match.
Auger-Aliassime was able to save three match points but, on the fourth, the Montreal-native sent his backhand long as Arnaldi completed the comeback in over four hours.
Two Canadians remain in the men's singles draw, with Denis Shapovalov and Gabriel Diallo winning their first-round matches on Monday.
Photo Credit: Martin Sidorjak
