It was a protracted day on the workplace for Félix Auger-Aliassime on Friday on the Italian Open in Rome that in the end led to disappointment for the Montreal native. The 22-year-old was ousted 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 by Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in his opening match on the ATP Masters 100 event. It was a protracted, tightly contested encounter that went previous the three-hour mark and in the end, Popyrin got here up with the products in crunch time to return away with the victory.
The opening set remained even till 4-4 when Popyrin, ranked no. 77 on the earth, received an prolonged sport that went on for greater than 10 minutes on Auger-Aliassime’s serve to earn the decisive break and earn the early benefit.
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It regarded just like the Aussie could be headed for a straight units win as he continued to push Auger-Aliassime with an clever all-around sport that was actually clicking, particularly at internet with a number of spectacular volleys, however the world no. 10 held agency and elevated his play simply in time to get a maintain and a break from 4-4 to stage the match.
The 2 gamers continued to go toe-to-toe within the closing body and as soon as once more it was Popyrin who had all of the break level possibilities, 16 in complete through the contest, and he lastly transformed one within the tenth sport at 5-5 because of a spotlight reel backhand passing shot winner that left Auger-Aliassime surprised. He efficiently served out the match to notch his third Prime 10 victory of the 2023 season, two of which have come towards the Canadian No. 1. Popyrin, who took residence the French Open junior title in 2017, additionally beat Auger-Aliassime on residence soil in Adelaide in January.
Friday’s loss implies that Auger-Aliassime enters the second Grand Slam occasion of the yr at Roland-Garros and not using a singles win on clay, so the hope is that the additional apply time will assist him adequately put together for Paris.
Andreescu Knocked Out by Vondrousova
Bianca Andreescu bumped into an in-form Marketa Vondrousova throughout her first match on the Italian Open on Friday night and had her brief keep on the WTA 1000 come to an abrupt finish following a disappointing 6-0, 6-1 loss to the previous French Open finalist from the Czech Republic.
The 22-year-old Canadian, seeded no. 24 in Rome, merely had no reply for Vondrousova’s selection and precision on her groundstrokes as she dictated proceedings from begin to end which led to her profitable twice as many factors as her opponent within the 55-minute encounter.
Andreescu, who was taking part in simply her second match since struggling an ankle harm in Miami, will look to place this loss within the rearview mirror as shortly as potential and shift her focus to Roland-Garros the place she hopes to realize some helpful Grand Slam rating factors for her ongoing quest to climb again to the highest of the ladies’s sport.
