For the moment, Félix Auger-Aliassime boasts a perfect record on the most iconic tennis court in the world.
Seeded third at the 2026 Wimbledon Championships, the 25-year-old finally got the opportunity to play on Centre Court at the All-England Club and shone in the spotlight, dispatching American qualifier Michael Zheng in straight sets to reach the fourth round of Wimbledon for the second time in his career.
During his run to the 2021 quarter-finals, Auger-Aliassime played on Court 1 three times, but never got scheduled on Centre Court.
Despite 140 spots between them in the rankings, Zheng hung tough with Auger-Aliassime early on. But as the match progressed, the world No. 4 asserted himself and pulled away for a 7-6(1), 6-2, 6-1 win. It is the second time in the Montrealer’s career that he has reached the last sixteen at a Grand Slam event without having dropped a set.
After the match, Auger-Aliassime described it as “the highest level I’ve played” through three matches and the numbers back that up. He won 91 per cent of his first-serve points and saved the only two break points he faced, not allowing Zheng a look at a break after the first set. He pounded 38 winners to his opponent’s 10.
Apart from one poor game from Auger-Aliassime late in the opening set, the servers cruised on the way to a tiebreak. That lone exception came in the ninth game, when three mid-court misses on easy balls from the Canadian gave Zheng a break point. The third seed erased it with a big serve and managed to escape another when the qualifier sent his return long at 40-AD, eventually holding.
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The breaker was all Auger-Aliassime. He set the tone on the second point, blasting a deep return into Zheng’s feet that the American could not handle to secure a quick minibreak. The Canadian won the first six points in a row and converted the first set point he had on his own serve with an ace.
After having stuck with the third seed through the first set, Zheng could not keep up after getting blown away in the breaker. He managed to save the first two break points he faced in the match at 1-1 but at 2-2, netted a forehand to give Auger-Aliassime another chance. This time, the Canadian blasted a forehand out wide that was too much for the qualifier to handle, securing the first break of the match.
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From there, Auger-Aliassime ran away with the match. He won the last five games of the second set, adding another break to go up 5-2, as he cruised to a two-set lead.
He kept rolling into the third set, breaking the first two times Zheng stepped up to the line. The third seed raced out to a 4-0 lead before the American managed a hold to end Auger-Aliassime's run at nine consecutive games. Still, it was just delaying the inevitable. The Montrealer only lost one point on his serve in the third set and broke for again in the final game to secure his first Centre Court victory and a spot in the fourth round.
Auger-Aliassime is the only Canadian left in the singles draws at Wimbledon. He will look to reach the quarter-finals of The Championships for the second time in his career when he takes on 22nd seed and recent Mallorca Open champion Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Sunday. The Canadian leads their head-to-head 3-1, although this would be their first meeting on grass. They have met twice before at majors, both times at the Australian Open, splitting those meetings with the Spaniard winning the more recent clash in 2025 by coming back from two-sets-to-love down.
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Gabriela Dabrowski kicked off her Wimbledon campaign on Friday. She and Luisa Stefani, the second seeds in the women’s doubles draw, easily dispatched Alexa Guarachi and Alicja Rosolska in straight sets 6-2, 6-2. They play Caroline Dolehide and Alicia Parks in round two.
The Ottawan also won her first-round doubles match with Evan King. The Roland-Garros finalists upset the fourth seeds Henry Patten and Olivia Nicholls in straight sets.
The Davis Cup is coming to Quebec City September 18 and 19 as Team Canada hosts France in the Davis Cup Qualifiers Second Round. Tickets are on sale now. CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS!
Feature Photo : Martin Sidorjak
