Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime marked his comeback on the court with a victorious 6-3, 7-5 triumph against Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Cincinnati Open’s second-round match on Sunday. Despite being the second seed at the Masters-level tournament, Auger-Aliassime faced challenges in the windy conditions during the second set. He missed an opportunity to serve out the match at 5-4 but managed to break back in the following game and secured the win with his seventh ace on match point.
Reflecting on the match, Auger-Aliassime acknowledged the challenging wind conditions affecting his serve after a 40-day break since his last game at Wimbledon. He expressed relief at overcoming the difficulties to secure the victory, particularly considering recent health challenges. This win signifies a positive return for the 26-year-old player.
Auger-Aliassime’s victory against Tsitsipas was significant as he has historically struggled against the Greek player, with this win marking only his fourth victory in 11 encounters. Up next, Auger-Aliassime will face Juan Cerundolo of Argentina, who upset the 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech of France in a tight match on Sunday.
In women’s action, qualifier Xiyu Wang of China defeated 30th-seeded Leylah Fernandez from Laval, Que., in a hard-fought battle lasting two hours and two minutes. Wang, aged 25 and previously ranked 49th in the world, showcased a strong performance after a slow start against Fernandez. While Fernandez, who recently reached the round of 16 at the National Bank Open in Toronto, struggled with unforced errors and double faults, Wang demonstrated consistency in her gameplay, clinching the victory with a combination of winners and sound service games.