Montreal’s Félix Auger-Aliassime secured a critical victory in a tight 5-7, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4) match against France’s Alexandre Muller at the Paris Masters. Auger-Aliassime’s dominant serve, boasting 21 aces and an average speed of 206 kilometers per hour, propelled him to the Round of 16. Currently ranked ninth in the ATP Race To Turin standings, Auger-Aliassime aims to qualify for the season-ending ATP Finals, needing a strong performance at the ATP 1000 event to surpass Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, who is one spot ahead in the rankings. Auger-Aliassime capitalized on a fortunate turn of events as Musetti was upset by Lorenzo Sonego in a later match.
Despite a recent retirement due to a back injury, Auger-Aliassime displayed resilience on the court. Muller initially took the lead by breaking Auger-Aliassime, but the Canadian fought back, securing crucial breaks and holding serve to force a tiebreak. Auger-Aliassime overcame deficits in the tiebreak, ultimately clinching the match.
In the upcoming Round of 16, Auger-Aliassime will face Daniel Altmier, against whom he holds a 1-2 career record. Known for his prowess in tiebreak situations, Auger-Aliassime has a commendable 69.2% tiebreak winning percentage, ranking him fourth on the ATP Tour in this category.
In a separate match, Montreal’s Gabriel Diallo faced a tough defeat against sixth-seeded Australian Alex de Minaur. Diallo showed resilience by staging a comeback in the first set but fell short in the end.
Meanwhile, Leylah Fernandez advanced to the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Open with a commanding 6-4, 6-1 victory over Germany’s Eva Lys. Fernandez, the tournament’s second seed, showcased her dominance by winning 73% of her first-serve points and breaking Lys four times. Fernandez’s impressive form continued, securing her seventh win in the last eight matches, including a recent triumph at the Japan Open. The 23-year-old Canadian will next face seventh-seeded Sorana Cirstea of Romania in the upcoming match. Victoria Mboko, another Canadian contender, is set to play Alexandra Eala of the Philippines in her upcoming match.