Felix Auger-Aliassime, who was sidelined by a back injury during the National Bank Open in Montreal, demonstrated significant progress in his recovery. The 26-year-old Montreal tennis sensation advanced to the Round of 16 at the Cincinnati Open by defeating Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo 7-5, 6-1 on Tuesday evening.
In a swift one hour and 27 minutes, Auger-Aliassime outplayed Cerundolo in the Round of 32 singles match. His next challenge will be against Frances Tiafoe, who emerged victorious in a tough all-American battle against Learner Tien with a scoreline of 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, lasting two hours and 10 minutes.
Auger-Aliassime’s journey at the Cincinnati Open started with a strong win over Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in a 6-3, 7-5 triumph on Sunday. In his recent match against Cerundolo, Auger-Aliassime showcased six aces, five double faults, 22 unforced errors, and 19 winners. He secured three out of nine return games and maintained a perfect record in his service games.
Having withdrawn from the NBO in Montreal due to a back injury sustained during pre-tournament training, Auger-Aliassime was the second seed at the Canadian event. Other notable players like World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz also opted out of the tournament to prioritize their health concerns. Additionally, Novak Djokovic, the record holder for the most Grand Slam titles among male players, withdrew from the competition.