18-year-old Auger-Aliassime powers past big-serving Opelka in D.C.
It was the Canadian teen's summer hard-court season debut.
The second-round contest in Washington, D.C. between Felix Auger-Aliassime and Reilly Opelka—two of the ATP’s emerging stars—did not disappoint on Wednesday at the Citi Open, with Auger-Aliassime coming out on top, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
While both players are considered part of the ATP’s Next Gen, each has proven they can give top players a run for their money. The 18-year-old Auger-Aliassime entered the main-stage scene by making a surprising Miami semifinal run—a Masters 1000 event. In 2019 alone, he has reached three career ATP finals and two semifinals. Opelka announced himself after saving six match points against compatriot and fellow big server John Isner in the New York Open semifinals on his way to his first career ATP trophy in February—he has now beaten Isner three consecutive times, his latest win just a week ago in the Atlanta second round.
Playing his first match since bowing out of the third round of Wimbledon, the Canadian teen had his nose out in front early, with a break in the fifth game of the first set and wrapped up the set without facing a break point. Then it was the 6’11” American’s turn, reeling off the first three games of the second set en route to leveling the match.
It was down to the wire as both players pushed each other, with Auger-Aliassime finding the window in the 10th game of the third set to claim the match on his second match point.
With the win, he booked an appointment with sixth-seeded Marin Cilic, who took out Marius Copil, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4), on Tuesday.
