Following Leylah Annie Fernandez’s victory to start off the day, fellow Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime followed suit, but did so in straight sets, beating world No. 54 Marton Fucsovics 7-6(3), 7-5 in the Miami Open presented by Itaú second round on Saturday.
The Canadian No. 1 recorded his 200th hard-court win in the process.
Despite the straight-sets victory, things didn’t come easy for Auger-Aliassime. The 25-year-old from Montreal was faced with ten break points, saving seven, and dealt with some aggressive play from Fucsovics. However, the Hungarian No. 2 committed 40 unforced errors by result, while finishing with just one more winner than the Canuck.
Nothing separated Auger-Aliassime and Fucsovics through the first four games. Both players won the near-same percentage of first-serve points over each of their first three service games. The Canadian was then able to break from 3-3, love-30, but was immediately broken back as the set remained even until the tiebreaker.
Read also: Tennis Canada appoints Martin Laurendeau as new Head of Men’s Tennis
At 1-2, Auger-Aliassime pulled away after Fucsovics found the net with his approach, followed by a double fault to hand the Montrealer a 4-1 advantage. Auger-Aliassime increased his lead to 5-1 heading into the changeover and eventually sealed the first set.
Again, like the opener, neither player could find a way to break away in the second. Auger-Aliassime lost serve in the opening game but quickly broke back. The Canuck then had a chance to go one-game away from the third round after a break put him up 4-2, but he was unable to couple it with a hold as Fucsovics managed to level the set at four apiece.
The contest almost seemed destined for a second tiebreaker; however, a match point presented itself to Auger-Aliassime at 5-6, 30-40. The world No. 8 jumped on the Hungarian’s second serve, powering a return winner to secure his spot into round three where he will play Frenchman Terance Atmane.
Read also: State of the Road to the NBO - Chan in Charge of Men’s Standings
Gabriel Diallo (CAN) vs [31] Ugo Humbert (FRA)
Feature Photo: Sarah-Jade Champagne
