Montreal’s own Felix Auger-Aliassime marked his successful comeback to the tennis court with a 6-3, 7-5 victory against Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas during the second round of the Cincinnati Open on Sunday. Despite being the second seed in the tournament, Auger-Aliassime faced challenges with the windy conditions during the match, even missing the opportunity to close out the game at 5-4.
After struggling briefly, the 26-year-old managed to break back in the following game and eventually secured the win with his seventh ace on match point. Auger-Aliassime acknowledged the tough conditions, especially with the wind affecting his serve, but expressed relief in being able to regain control and secure the victory.
Having not played since Wimbledon due to health issues, Auger-Aliassime was pleased with his performance and the outcome of the match. This win against Tsitsipas, only his fourth in 11 encounters, sets him up to face Juan Cerundolo of Argentina in the next round. Cerundolo, who caused an upset by defeating 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech of France in a close match, holds a 1-2 record against Auger-Aliassime.
In a separate women’s match on Sunday, Chinese qualifier Xiyu Wang overcame the 30th-seeded Leylah Fernandez from Laval, Quebec, in a hard-fought encounter lasting over two hours. Wang, a former world No. 49, showcased a strong performance after a slow start, clinching the victory with 23 winners and 35 unforced errors. Fernandez, who recently reached the round of 16 at the National Bank Open in Toronto, struggled with her game, recording seven double faults and fewer winners compared to Wang.
The match statistics reflected Wang’s dominance in both return and service games, as Fernandez struggled to maintain her form. Despite the loss, Fernandez remains a promising talent on the tennis circuit, with her recent successes highlighting her potential for future achievements.