Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime returned to the court in winning fashion at the Cincinnati Open, defeating Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-5 in the second round. Despite facing challenges with the wind in the second set and failing to close out the match at 5-4, the 26-year-old regrouped, broke back, and secured the victory with an ace on match point.
Reflecting on the match, Auger-Aliassime acknowledged the difficult conditions due to the wind but expressed satisfaction with his performance after a 40-day break from competitive play following Wimbledon. The Canadian player, who withdrew from the National Bank Open earlier due to a back injury, will now face Juan Cerundolo of Argentina in the next round, setting up a match against an opponent he has faced three times before.
In the women’s competition, Xiyu Wang of China defeated 30th-seeded Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., in a hard-fought match lasting over two hours. Wang, a 25-year-old qualifier, rallied after a slow start to clinch the victory, showcasing her strength with 23 winners and 35 unforced errors. Fernandez, who reached the round of 16 at the National Bank Open in Toronto, struggled with her performance, managing only three return game wins and seven service game victories against Wang’s solid play.
The Cincinnati Open continues to showcase intense competition and surprises, with players demonstrating resilience and skill on the court.