On a day headlined by a shock upset, Félix Auger-Aliassime got the job done against Roman Andres Burruchaga in the Roland-Garros second round on Thursday.
The 25-year-old from Montreal dropped the opener and was down a break in the third set but quickly bounced back, thanks to the strong showing behind his serve and forehand. Auger-Aliassime won an impressive 83 per cent of his first-serve points and fired 43 winners, 39 of which came on his forehand en route to the 4-6, 6-0, 7-5, 6-1 victory.
The Canadian No. 1 is now the highest-remaining seed in the top half of the draw following Jannik Sinner’s surprise exit earlier in the day.
Auger-Aliassime breezed through his opening two service games, winning eight-straight points behind his delivery. Though, the pressure began to set in shortly after for the Montrealer who had to serve his way through deuce in the fifth game before being faced with double break point at 3-3, 15-40. Burruchaga converted on the second try and backed up his break to close in on taking the first set at 5-3.
The Argentine comfortably sealed the opener from 5-4, 40-love, to grab a one-set lead over the No. 4 seed.
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However, Auger-Aliassime was unfazed in the second. The Canadian won a 22-shot rally on break point in the second game then, at 0-3, 40-AD, a Burruchaga double fault handed the world No. 6 a double-break lead.
Auger-Aliassime soon gained set point in the sixth game, watching the Argentine’s forehand sail long to earn his first bagel of the year and even the match.
The Canuck came out flying to start the third, adding nine winners to his tally through the first six games – all coming off the forehand. Both players conceded just one point behind their first serve over that span as the set was at stalemate.
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Auger-Aliassime saved four of five break points in the seventh game but responded immediately after the loss of serve, breaking back from 4-3, 30-love, to keep the contest balanced. The Montrealer then turned things up late in the set. At 5-5, 15-all, Auger-Aliassime won seven balls on the fly to close out the third and get within one set of the third round.
The Canadian was relentless to begin the fourth, conceding just one point in his opening two service game before firing back-to-back forehand winners at 1-2, 30-all, for the important break. The US Open semifinalist then broke for the second-straight time and had the opportunity to serve for the match.
With match point at 5-1, 40-15, Auger-Aliassime punched his ticket into round three with his seventh ace to complete the mini-comeback.
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The Canuck awaits the winner of No. 31 seed Brandon Nakashima and Frenchman Luca Van Assche in the round of 32.
Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak
