Felix Auger Aliassime is into the round of 16 of the Australian Open beating his good friend Denis Shapovalov 7-5, 7-5, 6-3. Auger Aliassime hit 31 winners in the win while Shapovalov hit 37 unforced errors in a thrilling match.
A tight first set
Both players did a good job holding serve in the opening games of the first set and it was the world number 12 who had the first break opportunity of the match at 3-3 winning a point with a great volley winner.
Shapovalov would go on to break as the Montreal native sent a ball to take a 4-3 lead but the lead didn’t last long as the world number 21 came back in the very next game and would break back to go back on serve.
With Shapovalov serving to force a first set tiebreak he would double fault to find himself facing three set points and Auger Aliassime would take the first set 7-5 as the Richmond Hill native sent a ball long.
A great battle
The second set was much like the first with again both players holding serve until 3-2 when once again it was the number 11 seed getting the early break to take a 4-2 lead before the number 20 seed stormed back to break back to go back on serve at 4-4.
At 6-5 once again the number 11 seed faced a set point and it was the Montreal native once again who would take the second set with a stunning forehand winner.
The closer
With the world number 21 sensing he was close to pulling off a great win he picked up the tempo and after holding the opening service game of the set had two chances to break and he would break to take an early 2-0 lead.
Shapovalov saved three break points at 3-0 to eventually hold serve and the next game set up break points of his own but Auger Aliassime would save both.
The world number 21 would serve it out at 5-3 and to take it 6-3 and with it the match to set up a 4th round encounter with Aslan Karatsev who earlier upset the number 8 seed Diego Schwartzman.
Auger-Aliassime was very grateful for the crowd support he got during the match.
“Thank you, thank you so much, its been a while we have heard noise in the stadium, you guys did an amazing job, its amazing, it’s a shame you won’t get to be here for the next couple days but thank you so much for pushing and for staying its been an amazing night “
He also spoke about the fact that he was playing a good friend tonight and how he was able to pull it off.
“Sure it was a good match on my part, it’s never to play Denis, we played for the first time when we were 9, we go back a long time, he’s beat me bad a couple of times but tonight I got my way, I was flawless, I played an amazing match, of course it’s a shame we have to play each other but I can be happy about my performance tonight”
He was also asked in his on court interview about making the 4th round for the first time in his career.
“I didn’t have so much luck these last years but I love this place so finally this year I’m playing some good tennis and I am through to the second week in front of you guys so it’s a pleasure”
Finally he gave his thoughts on his next match and what he will need to do to prepare for it.
“I played him three times already so I know him a little bit, he’s beat some good players, he’s a tough opponent so I am going to try and relax now and get ready to play my best tennis in two days”
