Felix Auger Aliassime came back from one set down to beat Matteo Berrettini 4-6 6-2 6.3 in the first round of the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati.
Auger Aliassime started Cincinnati with a 13-13 record this season and dropped to world number 14 in the world ranking. He arrived in Ohio on a five-match losing streak
Berrettini entered the match with a 4-1 lead in his head to head matches against Auger Aliassime.
Berrettini earned his first break in the fifth game to win the first set 6-4.
Auger Aliassime bounced back from losing the first set by winning the second set 6-2 with breaks in the fourth and eighth games.
The Canadian player earned a decisive break to take a 4-2 lead in the third set, when Berrettini made a double fault on the break point.
Auger Aliassime went up 30 to love with his ninth ace of the match and won a seven-shot rally on his first match point to serve out the win in the final game. “It’s a big win. It’s been a tough year, dealing with new things. Every win that I get from now on, I am happy. The tournament has just started and I I want to go further. I still have high ambitions”, said Auger Aliassime.
