The Canadian only played two sets with the Aussie before he decided to pull out due to an ab injury.
Felix Auger Aliassime is into the round of 16 for the first time in his career in his second trip to Wimbledon after Nick Kyrgios was forced to retire due to an ab tear that he suffered in the first set and continued to get worse deciding to call it quits at 2-6, 6-1 after playing for less than a hour.
“I’m sorry for Nick ( Kyrgios) he was playing so good in the first set and it’s really unfortunate in front of a packed crowd and we both love playing here so there were big expectations for this match and we were hoping to put on a good show and entertain the crowd so it’s unfortunate he had to retire and I hope that it is not too serious and that he is back on the US swing”.
It was indeed the Aussie who got off to the better start earning the first chance to break at 1-1 and managed to break the Canadian to love to take an early 2-1 lead and managed to turn that into a double break.
At 4-1 the Montreal native fought back and had two chances to get one of the breaks back and he did just that but squandered it the very next game before seeing the trainer and taking a medical timeout for the first time.
He would serve out the first set in 35 minutes and in the second set the world number 19 bounced back earning his first chance to break at 2-1 and broke the Canberra, Australia native with a powerful backhand return winner.
At 4-1 during the changeover Kyrgios saw the physio again stating the injury was getting worse and worse and he mentioned he would most likely finish the set and call it quits.
He was broken once again the very next game and the Canadian would serve out the first set and once again the trainer was out and that’s when the Aussie decided he couldn’t play anymore and retired.
After the match Auger Aliassime was asked about his second time playing Wimbledon and the experience of improving on his result from last year.
“Well it’s my second time playing here and I am one step better than the last time so it’s moving in the right direction but I am enjoying myself and this is my favourite tournament since I came here as a junior in 2016 and I only had good memories and I love the prestige of it and the crowd”
Auger Aliassime will now face Alexander Zverev after the German beat Taylor Fritz 6-7(3) 6-4 6-3 7-6(4) in 2 hours and 41 minutes.
