Félix Auger-Aliassime is back in the Cincinnati Open round of 16 after winning via retirement, 7-6(4), 4-2 over Arthur Rinderknech on Monday.
It is the first time Auger-Aliassime has reached the round of 16 of an ATP Masters 1000 event since the 2024 edition of the tournament.
The Canadian No. 1 was solid on both serve and return, winning 87 per cent of his first-serve points while holding eleven break points in the match, converting on two. The 24-year-old also had the same number of winners and unforced errors with 19 each.
Auger-Aliassime put Rinderknech under quite a bit of pressure on serve early on. In the third game, the Canadian held two break points but the Frenchman battled through an over ten-minute game to eventually hold. Then at 2-2, 15-40, the Montrealer held double break point but was unable to convert once again.
That was the last break point either player faced for the remainder of the set as a combined three service points were dropped until the tiebreak.
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Auger-Aliassime managed the early mini-break but was broken back, losing both points on serve as Rinderknech later took a 3-1 lead. However, the Canadian No. 1 dominated the rest of the way, winning six of the next seven points to take the opener.
In between sets, Rinderknech took an over eight-minute toilet break that put a dent into Auger-Aliassime’s momentum heading into the second set.
The Canadian was broken in the first game but, undeterred, the world No. 28 levelled the set in the fourth game with a break of his own after holding four break points. Following the game, the French No. 9 looked to be struggling with an illness as the 30-year-old needed a timeout before continuing in the match.
Auger-Aliassime took the lead with a hold in the fifth game and followed that up with a break to go up 4-2. Rinderknech then opted to retire due to an illness.
The Montrealer awaits the winner of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Benjamin Bonzi in the fourth round.
Feature Photo: Peter Power
