Thursday wasn’t an easy day for Félix Auger-Aliassime, but he snatched a straight-set 7-6(2), 7-6(5) win over Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor in a second-round encounter at the ‘s-Hertogenbosch tennis tournament in the Netherlands.
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Le 56e player on the ATP circuit gave the Quebecer, ninth in the world, a hard time during this duel of 1 h 46 min. “FAA” took advantage of their third match point to secure their place in the quarter-finals, where they will face Russian Karen Khachanov.
The winner largely dominated in aces, slamming 13 of 14 aces in the match. The second favorite of the competition, however, committed three double faults. Both athletes were unable to achieve a single break. Auger-Aliassime gave two chances to Griekspoor, who couldn’t take advantage of them.
Denis Shapovalov loses a tough fight
Canadian Denis Shapovalov bowed out to local player Oscar Otte in the second round of the Stuttgart tennis tournament, losing in straight sets 7-6(6), 7-6(4).
After being granted a bye in the first round and seeing his meeting postponed due to rain, “Shapo” sold his skin dearly in his first match of the season on grass. He surrendered in 1 h 38 min against the 61e world racket.
The fourth seed in the competition overtook her rival 12-6 in aces. The two men each broke, the Ontarian conceding his serve to the only chance he offered to Otte. The latter won 85% of the points disputed when he had the first balls in hand.
Shapovalov was back on the court later in the day for his second double of the event. He and partner Rohan Bopanna of India were ahead 6-4, 2-1 when their clash against Pakistan’s Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and Kazakh Aleksandr Nedovyesov was suspended due to rain. Hostilities will resume on Friday.
