(Tokyo) Félix Auger-Aliassime took time to find his composure at the Japan Tennis Championships on Monday, but he nevertheless made it through the first round by defeating Australian Aleksandar Vukic in three sets, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (2), 6-2 in two hours and 51 minutes, in Tokyo.
The 23-year-old Quebecer will face Austrian Sebastian Ofner in the second round.
In the first set against Vukic, Auger-Aliassime, the eighth seed, played his best tennis in the tiebreaker where his serve and shot placement started to click.
Trailing 3-2 in the second set, Auger-Aliassime had six break chances, but failed to take advantage and trailed 4-2 before taking a 6-point lead. -5. Vukic tied the set at 6-6, forcing another tiebreaker which he won 7-2.
In the third set, with a more offensive style, Félix Auger-Aliassime took a 5-1 lead to finally score a decisive 6-2 victory.
In total, the Canadian scored 13 aces, compared to five for his Australian opponent. Auger-Aliassime committed six double faults, compared to two for Vukic.