The year started badly for Félix Auger-Aliassime, who lost 6-4, 7-6 (5) to local hero Alexei Popyrin, ranked 120th in the world, on Monday in Adelaide, Australia.
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“FAA” faltered for the first time in the 10th game of the first set, offering his opponent his first three break points. The latter used the third to break. He then endured a break attempt on the next play himself to save himself with the sentence.
The Quebecer responded with a break on his first try of the second period but couldn’t maintain his lead and was eventually eliminated in the tie-break.
Auger-Aliassime was the second favorite of this tournament behind Novak Djokovic. Denis Shapovalov will also be in action on Tuesday. He also has to face an Australian, Rinky Hijikata.
Meanwhile, Vasek Pospisil was playing doubles with none other than Djokovic. They lost to doubles specialists Tomislav Brkic and Gonzalo Escobar 4:6, 6:3, 35, 10:5.
Fernández easily
Leylah Fernandez defeated Czech Brenda Fruhvirtova 6-1 in straight sets in Auckland, New Zealand to advance to the second round of this WTA 250 tournament.
Fernandez, on the other hand, was impressive, winning no fewer than five of the seven games in which Fruhvirtova held the ball. She had five breaks in 10 opportunities.
Despite a low percentage of 59% of first serves in the game, the 40th player in the WTA rankings has never lost her serve, fighting off the world’s 132nd racket’s four opportunities.
Fernandez now has an appointment with the Austrian Julia Grabher (82nd).
Marino too
If Fernandez reaches the third round, she could compete with her compatriot Rebecca Marino (63rd), who defeated the Hungarian Dalma Galfi (83rd) 6:3 and 7:6 (3) in the first round in the same section of the table.
Marino quickly built a 5-0 lead in the game, thanks in particular to a hold at love where she erased five break points.
Before he thinks about Fernandez, Marino has to beat Belgium’s Ysaline Bonaventure (95th) in the round of 16.