Felix Auger Aliassime is into the US Open quarterfinals after beating the world number 50 Frances Tiafoe in four sets 4-6, 6-2, 7-6, 6-4. Hitting 55 winners and 24 aces in the match.
” I had a rough start and getting broken as I did was tough,” said Auger-Aliassime. “I had many chances to recover in the first set and I didn’t. It was a bit frustrating but I bounced back well in the second set and in the third set it was very even. It was a tussle and a bit of a coin toss and it was a super important set so I was able to have a strong start in the fourth and finish off strong on my serve”.
Tiafoe got off to a better start by breaking the world number 15 in the opening game of the match and that break was enough for him to serve out the first set.
The second set stayed on serve until 3-2 when the Canadian managed to break the world number 50 to love and after consolidating the break broke the American serve once again to take the second set.
The third set was the tightest set of all four that were played and both players did a good job holding serve and the set was decided by a tiebreaker. Tiafoe jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the breaker but the Canadian recovered and it remained tight until Auger-Aliassime was able to take it 8-6 and move to one set away from the win.
The world number 15 continued to ride the high of winning the third set and broke Tiafoe in the first game of the fourth set and that one break was enough for him to serve it out.
After the match in his on-court interview, he was asked about how he would suppress his frustration and continue to fight.
” It was tough and I didn’t play well in the first set and as the match went he gained confidence and he was serving well every time so sometimes you have to accept the situation and hopefully it’s not like this every match”. He said.
Auger Aliassime will face the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
