Felix Fends Off Tiafoe To Reach US Open Quarters
Felix Auger-Aliassime has reached his second straight Grand Slam quarter-final, withstanding Frances Tiafoe and the American’s home crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium to prevail on Sunday night at Flushing Meadows.
The Canadian became the youngest man to reach back-to-back Grand Slam quarter-finals since Juan Martin del Potro in 2008-2009 with the 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(6), 6-4 fourth-round triumph. Victory set a blockbuster showdown with #NextGenATP Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.
In a first ATP Head2Head meeting between the pair, the 12th seed advanced on the back of 55 winners, including 24 aces. He won 83 per cent of first-serve points but converted just three of 15 break points.
“It was a tough start from me, a lot of nerves,” Auger-Aliassime said. “After I tried to recover I felt like I could have been able to break back in the first set but it is what it is, you’ve got to accept it.
“I played a great second set. That third set was almost a coin toss. I did feel like I had what it took to win that set and I just had to stay strong on my serve in the end. I’m really happy to be through.”
Auger-Aliassime reached his maiden Grand Slam quarter-final at Wimbledon in July, before he fell to eventual finalist, seventh seed Matteo Berrettini. A first major semi-final will be on the line when he meets 18-year-old Alcaraz for the first time.
“He’s a great player. At some point age is just a number. He already feels like a player who’s established,” Auger-Aliassime said. “He’s playing some amazing tennis so I think we’ll see a lot of him, a lot of us, a lot of Frances in the future.”
In the opening set, a reflex backhand volley from the American into the corner brought his home crowd to its feet as he went on to hold from 0-40 down for 3-1. Tiafoe – a quarter-finalist at the 2019 Australian Open – faced break points in all four service games of the set.
The Canadian was unable to convert any of his eight opportunities and it proved costly as Tiafoe reeled off a love hold to take the opening set on a huge unreturnable first serve. Auger-Aliassime finally converted a break point to snatch a 4-2 advantage in the second set and he carried the momentum to level the match at a set apiece.
In the third set, neither player could be separated on serve but with Tiafoe serving to stay in it, the Canadian brought up two set points on a low backhand volley winner. Again the American’s grit under the pump on serve came to the fore as he saved both and ripped a 223km/h serve down the T on his way to levelling at 5-5. Another set point against his serve was saved as he forced the tie-break, but Auger-Aliassime would not be denied again.
One point from letting the set slip, the Canadian clinched the tie-break on his fourth set point to hold a two-sets-to-one lead after two hours and 41 minutes.
Co-coaches Frederic Fontang and Toni Nadal nodded their approval from the stands as the 21-year-old turned the screws with an early break in the fourth set and it was the only advantage he required as he served it out after three hours and 23 minutes.