Felix Auger-Aliassime, who was sidelined by a back injury during the National Bank Open in Montreal, showcased strong recovery as he progressed to the Round of 16 at the Cincinnati Open. The 26-year-old Montreal tennis sensation secured a victory over Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina with a score of 7-5, 6-1 on Tuesday night.
In a swift match lasting one hour and 27 minutes against Cerundolo in the Round of 32, Auger-Aliassime displayed his prowess. He is now set to face Frances Tiafoe in the upcoming match. Tiafoe emerged victorious in an intense two-hour and ten-minute battle against Learner Tien in an all-American clash.
Auger-Aliassime commenced his winning streak by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece 6-3, 7-5 in his initial match on Sunday. During his match against Cerundolo, Auger-Aliassime delivered an impressive performance, recording six aces, five double faults, 22 unforced errors, and 19 winners. He managed to secure three out of nine return games and held all nine of his service games.
Earlier this month, Auger-Aliassime had to withdraw from the NBO in Montreal due to a back injury sustained during training before the tournament. Despite being the No. 2 seed at the Canadian event, he had to miss out on competing. Furthermore, other notable players like Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic also faced challenges, with Sinner opting out to prioritize his health, Alcaraz recovering from a wrist injury, and Djokovic withdrawing from the event.