Felix Auger-Aliassime, recovering well from a recent back injury that sidelined him from the National Bank Open in Montreal, showcased an impressive performance at the Cincinnati Open. The 26-year-old tennis standout from Montreal advanced to the Round of 16 by defeating Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina with a score of 7-5, 6-1 on Tuesday evening.
In a swift match lasting one hour and 27 minutes, Auger-Aliassime outplayed Cerundolo in the Round of 32 singles competition. His next challenge will be facing Frances Tiafoe, who secured victory against Learner Tien in a hard-fought all-American match that lasted two hours and 10 minutes.
Auger-Aliassime started strong by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in his opening match on Sunday with a score of 6-3, 7-5. Against Cerundolo, he showcased a remarkable performance with six aces, five double faults, 22 unforced errors, and 19 winners. Auger-Aliassime managed to win three out of nine return games and all nine of his service games during the match.
Having withdrawn from the NBO in Montreal due to a back injury sustained during training, Auger-Aliassime was seeded No. 2 in the tournament. Notably, other top players like Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic also encountered health issues or made the decision to prioritize their well-being, impacting their participation in recent tournaments.