Quebecer Félix Auger-Aliassime had the last word against Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, 50th in the world, in the second round of the Australian Open on Thursday in Melbourne.
“FAA” got the better of their Spanish rival in four sets of 7-6, 6-7, 7-6 and 7-6, after a hard-fought battle that lasted 4 hours 23 minutes.
The 21-year-old Quebec athlete, ranked ninth in the world, defeated Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori in five sets 6-4, 0-6, 3-6, 6-3 and 6-4 on Monday.
Auger-Aliassime will now face Briton Daniel Evans (24th in the world). The latter reached the third round by virtue of an abandonment of Arthur Rinderknech, injured in the wrist.
He and “FAA” have faced each other once in the past and the European had the upper hand.