Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime marked his comeback to the court with a successful 6-3, 7-5 victory against Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Cincinnati Open’s second-round match on Sunday. Despite being the second seed at the Masters-level tournament, Auger-Aliassime faced challenges in the windy conditions during the second set. He missed the opportunity to serve out the match at 5-4 but managed to break back in the following game and eventually sealed the victory with his seventh ace on match point.
Following a 40-day break since his last game, Auger-Aliassime acknowledged the tough conditions due to the wind affecting his serve power. However, he expressed satisfaction at securing the win, especially after enduring health issues post-Wimbledon. This win against Tsitsipas marked only the fourth victory for Auger-Aliassime out of their 11 encounters.
In the upcoming match, Auger-Aliassime will face Juan Cerundolo from Argentina, who upset 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech of France in a thrilling 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5) match. Fernandez’s journey in the women’s event came to an end as Chinese qualifier Xiyu Wang defeated 30th-seeded Leylah Fernandez from Laval, Que., in a tight battle lasting two hours and two minutes. Wang, a former world No. 49, showcased a strong performance after a slow start against Fernandez, who faced difficulties with her service and returns throughout the match.