Felix Auger Aliassime fought off Dominic Thiem’s come-back to take a 6-3 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 5-7 6-3 in a 4-hour and 59-minute marathon first-round match at the Australian Open in Melbourne. Auger Aliassime won the longest match of his career.
Auger Aliassime sealed his first Grand Slam win since he beat Francisco Cerundolo in the 2023 Australian Open third round.
Auger Aliassime was not able to get through the first round in four of his last six Grand Slam appearances. He lost in the first round at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and at the US Open. In his past appearances at the Australian Open the Canadian player lost to Aslan Karatsev in five sets in the fourth round in 2021 and to Danil Medvedev in a marathon match after holding match points.
Auger Aliassime won a total of 182 points, while Thiem won 57 winners. The Canadian player hit 16 aces to Thiem’s 15.
Auger Aliassime converted five of his thirteen break points.
Auger Aliassime was just two points away from a straight-set win, but Thiem came back to force a third-set tie-break.
Thiem earned two break points in the first game of the fifth set. Auger Aliassime won six consecutive points to hold serve before breaking in the second game to open up a 2-0 lead.
Auger Aliassime hit consecutive forehands to take a 30-15 lead and earned two match points, as Thiem sent a crosscourt forehand into the middle of the net. The Canadian player sealed the win with a forehand down the line on his first match point.
“It’s crazy. In these matches you go through all the emotions. It was a great level. I started well and then it’s the sport. Sometimes it sucks. You are trying your best. He played well, served well, and it was a struggle for me. In the end, I did not want to fail mentally. I did not want to disappoint myself with my effort to leave with any regrets. Even if it was frustrating, I needed to stay tough and strong, and I am happy I did because now I am really happy”, said Auger Aliassime.
