Félix Auger-Aliassime was taken down by the vengeful Arthur Fils in the BNP Paribas Open fourth round on Tuesday, losing 6-3, 7-6(9).
The Canadian No. 1 eliminated Fils in his return to the tour back in Montpellier.
The in-form Frenchman, coming off a final in Doha, didn’t face a break point till the second set following a strong performance on serve in the opener. Fils dealt with the pressure Auger-Aliassime placed on his delivery, saving three of four break points en route to a tiebreaker in the second. The French No. 2 erased a 0-5 deficit in that tiebreak to seal the match 15 points later.
Fils came out firing early in the match. At 0-1, 40-30, the Frenchman produced a backhand passing shot from past the tramlines to force deuce. Auger-Aliassime was beat at the net again, facing break point which Fils converted.
The Frenchman conceded just a single point on serve in his opening three service games as the 21-year-old held a 4-1 advantage.
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Auger-Aliassime saved double break point in the eighth game to keep the set alive for the time being but, at 5-3, love-15, Fils went on to win 11 of the next 12 points to wrap up the opener and go up a break to start the second set, leading 1-0, 40-love. The Frenchman held to extend his edge to 2-0.
The Canadian No. 1 held his first break point at 2-1, 30-40, but couldn’t find the crucial equalizer. Auger-Aliassime slowly found his rhythm though, being much more aggressive on the forehand that led him to another opportunity to level at 4-3, love-40. Fils saved two but the world No. 32 put his forehand wide, tying the set at four apiece.
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Both players held the rest of the way before Auger-Aliassime took a dominant hold of the tiebreaker, winning the first five points. Fils later cut the Canadian’s lead to 6-5 and, with Auger-Aliassime back on serve, the Frenchman’s defence completed the comeback as the tiebreak was level at 6-all.
Fils put away a volley to hold match point at 8-7, but a strong serve by Auger-Aliassime kept his singles run in Indian Wells alive. Coming out of the third changeover tied at 9-all, a couple of unforced errors from the Montrealer put an end to the match.
Auger-Aliassime remains in the doubles draw as he and his partner Sebastian Korda of the USA play Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev in the round of 16 later Tuesday.
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Victoria Mboko is now the only Canadian still in the running in singles. The world No. 10 battles world No. 6 Amanda Anisimova on Tuesday night.
Feature Photo: Sarah-Jade Champagne
