Ugo Humbert played spoiler in what would have been a perfect day for Canadians in Miami. The Frenchman eliminated Gabriel Diallo after earlier wins from fellow Canucks Leylah Annie Fernandez, Félix Auger-Aliassime, and Victoria Mboko.
Auger-Aliassime defeated world No. 54 Marton Fucsovics 7-6(3), 7-5 in his Miami Open presented by Itaú second-round match on Saturday. With the victory, the Canadian No. 1 earned his 200th hard-court win.
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.
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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.
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Diallo Outpowered by Humbert in Round Two
Gabriel Diallo couldn’t find a way to trouble world No. 34 Ugo Humbert in his 6-1, 6-4 loss in the Miami Open presented by Itaú second round on Saturday.
The Canadian No. 2 didn’t hold a break point in the match, while Humbert had eight and converted three. The Frenchman was dominant during the longer rallies, where he tallied a majority of his 21 winners.
Humbert dictated the first set, putting Diallo on the back foot early with a break in the Canadian’s opening service game. Diallo’s best chance to get back into the set was at 3-1, love-30, but the French No. 4 took over from there, conceding one point on his way to sealing the opener in 25 minutes.
Diallo was back to his big-serving ways to start the second set. Through his first three service games, the Montrealer lost just two of his 11 first-serve points.
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However, the world No. 37 still couldn’t apply the pressure on return. Diallo again let love-30 slip in the sixth game then, back on serve, the Canuck committed one of his two double faults in the match on break point, handing Humbert the 4-3 advantage.
The Frenchman followed up the break by winning seven points on the fly, holding match point at 3-5, love-40, but Diallo stayed alive and forced Humbert to try to serve out the contest.
The world No. 34 held a fourth match point at 5-4, 40-30, and went on the attack early to get off to a winning start in Miami.
Feature Photo: Sarah-Jade Champagne
