Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime marked his comeback to the court with a triumphant 6-3, 7-5 victory against Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round of the Cincinnati Open on Sunday. Seeded second at the Masters-level tournament, Auger-Aliassime encountered challenges with the wind in the second set, initially faltering while serving for the match at 5-4. Despite the setback, the 26-year-old managed to break back in the following game and seized the opportunity to secure the win by delivering his seventh ace on match point.
Reflecting on the match, Auger-Aliassime acknowledged the adverse windy conditions, admitting to feeling a lack of power in his serve due to the wind resistance. He expressed satisfaction with his performance, particularly after a 40-day break from competitive play since Wimbledon, citing recent health issues. Auger-Aliassime acknowledged the difficulty of the match’s conclusion but expressed gratitude for the victory, emphasizing the significance of returning to competition on a positive note.
Having historically struggled against Tsitsipas, Auger-Aliassime celebrated his fourth win in 11 encounters with the Greek player. Up next, the Canadian will square off against Juan Cerundolo of Argentina, who upset 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech of France in a thrilling 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5) victory on Sunday.
In women’s competition, Chinese qualifier Xiyu Wang overcame the challenge posed by 30th-seeded Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Quebec, prevailing 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in a two-hour, two-minute battle. Wang, 25, who previously held a No. 49 world ranking, demonstrated a slow start but displayed resilience in the subsequent sets, finishing with 23 winners, 35 unforced errors, two aces, and two double faults. Conversely, Fernandez, who recently reached the round of 16 at the National Bank Open in Toronto, struggled with her performance, tallying 11 winners, 26 unforced errors, seven double faults, and a single ace.
During the match, Fernandez faced challenges, winning only three out of 12 return games and seven out of 12 service games, while Wang displayed a more balanced performance, securing victories in five out of 12 return games and nine out of 12 service games.