(Miami) Quebecer Félix Auger-Aliassime started the Miami Open with a 7-6 (5) and 7-6 (8) win over Thiago Monteiro on Saturday.
Fifth seed, the Canadian had a good opposition from the Brazilian, 81e at the ATP.
Auger-Aliassime had the advantage 32-19 for game winners and 12-4 for aces in a match without a break.
Auger-Aliassime scored the first two points of the second deadlock break – his rival saw a ball hit the net and fall off target, then he hit way too deep.
The Quebecer took the lead 4-2 with his second ace in this deadlock break, then 5-2 with an uncrossed shot.
Later, the sixth ATP player double-faulted followed by an unprovoked error, which made the score 6-6.
Monteiro netted a successful bunt, but Auger-Aliassime responded with a point on a powerful serve. The same gun gave him an 8-7 cushion, before a ball hit the frame of his racquet.
The Brazilian had the same mishap before missing a drop shot to concede victory to the Quebecer, on his fourth match point.
In the third round, Auger-Aliassime will face Francisco Cerundolo, 31e in the world.
In women’s doubles, Laval’s Leylah Fernandez and American Taylor Townsend beat Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic, 6-4 and 7-6 (3).
Gabriela Dabrowski of Ottawa and Luisa Stefani of Brazil, however, were defeated by Bernarda Pera and Magda Linette: 6-4, 2-6, 10-5.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, second seed, won by forfeit ahead of Richard Gasquet, injured in the ankle.
Daniil Medvedev, seeded fourth, defeated Roberto Carballes Baena 6-1, 6-2.
The American Christopher Eubanks signed a first win against a player from top 50. He prevailed 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 against Borna Coric, 20e first in the series. Skilled player, Eubanks is 119e at the ATP.
On the women’s side, sixth seed Coco Gauff lost 6-7(8), 7-5, 6-2 to Anastasia Potapova.
Ontario’s Bianca Andreescu will be in action Sunday starting at noon against Sofia Kenin.
Denis Shapovalov, also from Ontario, will then face Taylor Fritz from the United States.
In the third game on the program on the central, the favorite Carlos Alcaraz will play against Dusan Lajovic, from Serbia.
