Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime marked a successful comeback on the court by defeating Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas with a 6-3, 7-5 victory in the second round of the Cincinnati Open on Sunday. Despite being the second seed at this Masters-level event, Auger-Aliassime encountered challenges with the wind during the second set and missed the opportunity to secure the match when leading 5-4. However, the 26-year-old managed to break back in the following game and capitalized on his second chance to close out the match by hitting his seventh ace on the decisive point.
Reflecting on the match, Auger-Aliassime acknowledged the difficult weather conditions, stating that the wind affected his serve power, especially towards the end. Despite the tricky circumstances, he expressed satisfaction with his performance after a 40-day hiatus from competitive play since Wimbledon, emphasizing the physical challenges he faced during this period. Auger-Aliassime highlighted his contentment with the victory, considering the circumstances surrounding his return to the court.
Historically, Auger-Aliassime has found it challenging to overcome Tsitsipas, with this win marking only the fourth victory out of their 11 encounters. Following his withdrawal from the National Bank Open due to a back injury, the Canadian player is set to face Juan Cerundolo from Argentina in the next round. Cerundolo, who holds a 1-2 record against Auger-Aliassime, caused an upset by defeating the 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech of France with a score of 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5) on Sunday.
In the women’s competition later that day, the 30th seed Leylah Fernandez from Laval, Quebec, competed against China’s Wang Xiyu.