Felix Auger Aliassime is into the second round of the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center after beating the Russian qualifier Evgeny Donskoy 7-6, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 in four hours. He served 14 aces and 53 winners in the win while Donskoy hit 37 unforced errors in the loss.
“It was crazy and the atmosphere was insane,” said Auger-Aliassime. “I was really looking forward to playing in front of the fans again and to have everybody show up at 11 am on a Monday with a packed crowd that was super loud...What a fight because he was really made me dig deep that’s for sure.”
The Canadian was referencing the packed stadium on court 17 that was in favor of him winning and spent the entire four hours supporting him.
Both players did a good job holding serve in the opening set and it was 3-2 that the number 12 seed had the first three breakpoints of the match to break but the Russian saved all three. The first set was decided by a tiebreak which the Montreal native dominated and didn’t lose a single point.
However, the world number 152 wasn’t about to back down from a fight and in the second set got his first break of serve of the match at 2-1 and broke the Canadian with a massive forehand. That one break of serve was enough for the qualifier to serve out the second set and go into a crucial third set.
Donskoy carried the momentum in the third set and once again broke the world number 15 to take a 3-2 lead. It stayed on serve until 5-4 when the Canadian responded breaking right back to avoid trailing two sets to one. Once again proceedings went into another tiebreak and for the second time Auger-Aliassime was in full control, only losing one point in the breaker.
Neither player blinked on serve in the fourth set and for the third time a tiebreak decided the set. This one was tight and very competitive with both players doing a good job at holding serve. It went back and forth until 3-3 when the Russian got a break of serve but again gave it back at 5-4 and at 7-6 the Canadian had a chance to end the match but Donskoy saved it.
At 8-7, the world number 152 had a chance to force a fifth and deciding set but again was denied by the number 12 seed and at 9-8 Auger Aliassime served out the match.
After the match in an on-court interview, Auger-Aliassime was asked how important it was to be challenged this early in a tournament.
“It’s good for the confidence but at the same time my body is pretty worn down today and it’s only the start of the tournament. I always recover really well and the most important is that I got through,” he said.
Felix Auger Aliassime will next face Bernabe Zapata Miralles in the second round after the Spaniard beat Feliciano Lopez in five sets.
