Quebecer Félix Auger-Aliassime worked very hard to win his first main draw match at the French Open.
Auger-Aliassime triumphed for the first time in his career after losing the first two sets of a major tournament duel. He toppled Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas 2-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 on Sunday.
The duel ended after more than three hours and 14 minutes, when Auger-Aliassime landed a forehand winner.
Auger-Aliassime, seeded ninth, had lost in the first round at Roland Garros the past two years.
For his part, Varillas was in his first career main draw match at a major tournament.
Auger-Aliassime hoped to have found his touch with a participation in the quarter-finals in Madrid, then a great battle despite a loss against Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals in Rome.
Despite everything, he had to draw on his resources to defeat Varillas, 122nd racket in the world.
Auger-Aliassime was broken from the start by Varillas, who was able to take control 2-0 in the first set. Varillas then broke his rival’s serve a second time in the fifth game, building a 4-1 lead. He was thus able to easily get his hands on the first run.
Things didn’t get much better in the second run for Auger-Aliassime. Varillas broke the Quebecer’s serve for the third time in the game in the third game, winning it at zero.
Two games later, Auger-Aliassme again found themselves trailing 0-40, but managed to come back to avoid seeing their rival increase their advantage.
It was only a postponement for Varillas, who got a second break of service in the second set in the seventh game, for a 5-2 advantage and a chance to serve for the set.
Varillas took advantage of an unforced error by Auger-Aliassime to win the second set at his first opportunity.
For the first time in the game, Auger-Aliassime pushed his rival in the third round. He finally generated a first break point in the fourth game and converted it, giving himself a 3-1 lead.
The Quebecer won the next three games to prolong the debate.
Auger-Aliassime continued his momentum in the fourth set, breaking Varillas’ serve with a forehand winner. He broke another game in the ninth game to force a final inning.
Varillas called a medical timeout before serving at 2-3 in the fifth inning. The Peruvian hung on, but Auger-Aliassime broke his serve with a splendid forehand winner to serve for the game at 5-3.
Auger-Aliassime did not waste this opportunity and he reached the second round for the first time at Roland-Garros. He will face the winner of the duel between Argentinian Camilo Ugo Carabelli and Russian Aslan Karatsev.
Later Sunday, the Lavalloise Leylah Fernandez, 17th seed among the ladies, played her first round match against the Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic.
For her part, the Vancouverite from the qualifications Rebecca Marino had an appointment with the American and 18th seed Coco Gauff.