Félix Auger-Aliassime successfully continued his career at the Australian Open on Monday.
The 21-year-old Quebecer will participate in the quarter-finals of the Australian tournament for the first time in his career. He qualified there by virtue of a 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory over Croatian Marin Cilic.
Auger-Aliassime, 9th player in the world, however, had a checkered start to the match.
“He was hitting the ball with great precision, especially in the first set. He was better than me, he said bluntly in a post-game interview on the pitch. Round two could go either way. »
Cilic struggled to maintain the pace he established early in the game where he dominated his opponent.
“It was in the third round that I started to take control,” summed up Auger-Aliassime.
Cilic totaled 60 unforced errors and eight double faults against 31 unforced errors and four double faults for his Canadian rival.
“I had lost three times against Cilic, this is the first time that I have managed to beat her in my career. He really made me work hard to get the win. I’m mostly relieved that it’s behind me. »
The duel lasted three hours and 35 minutes at John Cain Arena. The temperature was still high on the court.
“I still feel good physically. It’s quite warm, but the shadows limited the heat,” he added.
Auger-Aliassime will face Russian Daniil Medvedev, the tournament’s second seed, in the next round.
The Russian confirmed his presence in the quarter-finals a few minutes later when he defeated American Maxime Cressy in four sets 6-2, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (4), 7-5, Monday.
Medvedev is trying to become the first male player of the professional era to win his second major singles title at the next Grand Slam tournament. He is now potentially three wins away from doing so.
Medvedev was the runner-up in Australia last year but got his revenge with a win over Novak Djokovic in the New York final. Djokovic is not defending his title in Australia after being sent off on the eve of the start of the first major tournament of the year for failing to meet the country’s strict COVID-19 vaccination criteria.
Cressy’s serve and volley style caused moments of frustration for Medvedev, who quipped at the end of the fourth set that it was “the unluckiest day of my life”. His luck returned quickly, however. After saving eight break chances in the set, Cressy gave up the break in that game and Medvedev served without giving up a point.
Jannik Sinner, no.11, also ended the Australian’s last hope in the men’s draw by beating Alex de Minaur 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-4.
The temperature reached 34 degrees Celsius on the eighth day of the tournament, with players allowed extra breaks to cope with the heat.