Ahead of qualified Juan Pablo Varillas, Quebec’s Félix Auger-Aliassime got off to a bad start at his French Open on Sunday in Paris. However, after losing the opening two sets, he bounced back to win 2-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3.
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The Quebecer used his second match point to win. He took advantage of his opponent’s fatigue and wounds, who asked for a medical break to treat blisters on his fingers.
‘FAA’ had never won a game in five innings, having previously lost the first two. It’s also his first win in the peloton at Roland-Garros.
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While again demonstrating his strength with 13 aces, Auger-Aliassime struggled on his second serve, winning just 40% of rallies when needed. He gave nine breakballs to his opponent, who used four of them in the first two sets.
The ninth slugger in the world, however, found his way in the last three sets, uncompromising when in control. Varillas (122nd) was therefore unable to get a single breakball and helplessly supported his opponent’s race to catch up.
The winner now meets the winner of a duel between Camilo Ugo Carabelli (154th) and Aslan Karatsev (39th). Until then he needs to rest as he just fought a 3 hour 14 minute fight.