Alex de Minaur continued his nice 2024, overcoming Félix Auger-Aliassime 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the spherical of 16 on the Italian Open in Rome.
In an athletic and high-level affair, the world quantity 11 from Australia wanted precisely three hours to battle previous the decided Canadian.
It was Auger-Aliassime who began the match rapidly, breaking the Australian’s serve within the opening recreation, and dictating play together with his punishing first serve and baseline recreation.
De Minaur responded with a break again within the sixth recreation, because the Canadian double faulted to degree the rating at 3-3.
The set stayed degree till 6-all, earlier than the Auger-Aliassime gained the higher hand within the tiebreak.
The 23-year-old seized the early scoreboard benefit, pushing forward 4-1 off of a de Minaur double fault. He’d win the ultimate three factors to take the primary set 7-6(2) in 68 minutes.
The match was once more tightly contested within the second. Auger-Aliassime saved the primary break level of the set at 3-all, hitting two winners and firing an ace to carry for 4-3.
Learn extra: Auger-Aliassime outduels Van de Zandschulp in Rome Opener
The Australian utilized stress on return at 4-all, capitalizing on a double fault and unforced error from his opponent to seize the one break of the set. He would fend off one last problem from the Canadian earlier than holding to win the second 6-4 in 58 minutes.
The run of impressed tennis continued from the Aussie within the third set.
He continued to generate probabilities in his return video games, ultimately capitalizing on a 3rd break level within the third recreation to take a 2-1 lead.
In the meantime, beneath duress, Auger-Aliassime fended off two extra break level appears for the Australian at 3-1, escaping for a key maintain of serve.
It was a key momentum shift for the Canadian, who received eight consecutive factors on the trot, to maneuver forward 4-3.
Nevertheless, the Australian saved his composure to carry serve, and Auger-Aliassime’s service struggles reared their head within the ninth recreation.
The Canadian hit two of his 13 double faults within the match to reward a break again to the Australian.
De Minaur closed the match with an unreturned serve, securing his twenty fifth tour match win of the season.
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The 25-year-old has now reached the spherical of 16 or higher at 4 of 5 Masters 1000 occasions this season.
Auger-Aliassime drops to 17-12 on his 2024 marketing campaign. The Canadian completed with 29 winners by the match, and 38 unforced errors.
He’ll now set his sights on Roland Garros, which begins subsequent week.
