Thursday, Oct 15, 2020. 1:34 PM
(Update : Thursday, Oct 15, 2020. 3:17 PM)
COLOGNE, Germany – Canada’s Félix Auger-Aliassime defeated Switzerland’s Henri Laaksonen 6-4, 6-1 on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament in Cologne.
Auger-Aliassime, 22nd in the world ranking and third seed, needed an hour and 17 minutes to overcome his rival, ranked 139th.
Even though he only placed 58% of his first serve points in play, Auger-Aliassime did not award a break point to Laaksonen. During this time, he broke Laaksonen’s serve three times, on five occasions.
“When I managed to get rid of the nervousness and started to feel better, to serve better, and started going for my shots, I think I was able to gain the advantage in the meeting, ”said Auger-Aliassime, for whom it was the first game since his loss in the first round at the French Open.
In the quarter-finals, Auger-Aliassime will face Moldovan Radu Albot, 82nd racket in the world.
“He’s fast and he brings a lot of balls in play,” said Auger-Aliassime. He’s not the most powerful on serve, but he can place the ball very well. ”
“I’m going to have to hit one, two, three or even more balls at each point, but I’m up to the challenge.”
Favorite Alexander Zverev also advanced to the quarter-finals of the indoor tournament on Thursday, scoring 6-4, 6-1 against Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.
Zverev had seven aces and the German did not award Verdasco a break point.
In the next round, Zverev will cross swords with South African Lloyd Harris.
For his part, the Croatian and eighth seed Marin Cilic saw his course be slowed down in the second round. Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina beat him 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2.
