No. 2 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime shook off any possible rust and overcame the elements and his opponent to defeat Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-5 on Sunday at the Cincinnati Open.
Making his return after a back injury sidelined him since early July, the World No. 4 player couldn’t convert on two break opportunities in the second set, when the conditions grew windier and worked against his serve.
But the Canadian still managed seven aces in the match and won 66 of 111 points to close it out.
“It got really windy,” Auger-Aliassime said. “The wind was pushing against me. I felt like I had no power in my serve. It was a tricky ending, but luckily I was able to get the break back. I was able to come back and serve it out better, with the wind this time.”
Auger-Aliassime hadn’t played a match in 40 days, but he reported no ill effects from the back on Sunday.
“It got tricky in the end but overall, for someone who hasn’t played since Wimbledon — obviously it’s been a tough few weeks health wise. But I’m happy to be back with a win like this, it’s great.”
Argentinian Juan Manuel Cerundolo is next up for Auger-Aliassime in the round of 32.
16th-seeded Learner Tien advanced past Argentina’s Sebastian Baez 6-3, 7-6 (4) by blasting 20 winners and recording five aces.
Russian Andrey Rublev, seeded 13th, handled business against Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta 7-6 (5), 6-1. That match featured a chaotic tiebreak in the first set before Rublev coasted to the win in the second.
His countryman, fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev, handled Argentina’s Marco Trungelliti 6-4, 7-5. He had 11 aces compared to his opponent’s one.
No. 6 seed Taylor Fritz controlled his match against fellow American Alex Michelsen, winning 6-3, 6-4. His 21 winners underscored his dominance.
Australia’s Christopher O’Connell knocked out Norway’s Casper Ruud, who retired.
Other winners Sunday included Americans Brandon Nakashima and Michael Zheng, Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, Spain’s Daniel Merida, Portugal’s Nuno Borges, Brazil’s Joao Fonseca, Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo and Australia’s Adam Walton.
Americans Ben Shelton (seeded eighth) and Frances Tiafoe (17th) were slated to play Sunday evening.
–Field Level Media
