Félix Auger-Aliassime advanced to the Australian Open quarter-finals with a 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-2, 7-6(4) win over Croatian Marin Cilic, Monday.
Posted at 6:38 a.m.
The 21-year-old Quebecer will participate in the quarter-finals of the Australian Grand Slam tournament for the first time in his career. The ups and downs of the ninth racquet in the world did not lead us to predict this qualification.
“He was hitting the ball with great precision, especially in the first set. He was better than me,” Auger-Aliassime said bluntly in a post-game interview on the pitch. “The second run could go either way. »
Cilic struggled to maintain the pace he established early in the game where he seemed to dominate 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 spanned three hours and 35 minutes live from John Cain Arena. The temperature rose to a felt 31 degrees Celsius.
“I still feel good physically. It’s quite warm, but the shadows limited the heat,” he added.
Auger-Aliassime will face the tournament’s second seed in the next round, Daniil Medvedev.
The Russian confirmed his presence in the quarter-finals a few minutes after his next opponent when he defeated the American Maxime Cressy in four sets of 6-2, 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 7- 5, Monday.
The Quebecer also joined fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov among the eight finalists. Shapovalov will cross swords with Spain’s Rafael Nadal in the next round. The two Canadians can only meet in the final of the tournament.
The 22-year-old Ontarian defeated world No. 3 Alexander Zverev in three sets to earn his spot in the quarter-finals.