Felix Auger-Aliassime experienced the non-stop energy of New York City firsthand during his U.S. Open match. Despite a delayed start, enduring a rain delay, and a grueling three-hour and 19-minute battle, the Montreal tennis sensation emerged victorious in the first round, defeating Australia’s Rinky Hijiata 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Reflecting on the match, Auger-Aliassime acknowledged the challenges posed by his long-time acquaintance on the court. Despite facing difficulties, he expressed relief at advancing to the next round. Auger-Aliassime’s impressive performance included 17 aces, 48 winners, and 11 double faults, along with 50 unforced errors. He secured victory by winning 18 out of 22 service games and six out of 21 return games.
Looking ahead, Auger-Aliassime is set to face Russian Karen Khachanov in the next round. Meanwhile, Denis Shapovalov from Richmond Hill, Ont., will compete in his second-round men’s singles match against Luca Van Assche of France. Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., is also gearing up for her second-round women’s singles match against Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand. Shapovalov and Fernandez both secured wins in their respective opening matches, setting the stage for exciting matchups in the upcoming rounds.
