Felix Auger-Aliassime didn’t have issues all his personal manner Monday, however he stepped up when wanted to achieve the second spherical on the Australian Open for the third time.
Chasing his first win of the season, the Canadian recovered from a gradual begin to overcome countryman Vasek Pospisil 1-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(3), 6-3 in three hours and 59 minutes.
The sixth seed Auger-Aliassime, who struggled at instances to search out his finest stage towards the World No. 99, now leads Pospisil 4-1 of their ATP Head2Head sequence. The 22-year-old will subsequent meet Alex Molcan after the Slovakian clawed previous 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka 6-7(3), 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(2), 6-4.
In entrance of a full of life crowd on John Cain Enviornment, Pospisil flew out of the blocks. The 32-year-old hit by means of Auger-Aliassime along with his weight of shot and moved ahead successfully, successful 82 per cent (9/11) of web factors within the first set to soar forward.
Regardless of the early setback, Auger-Aliassime shortly recovered. The World No. 7 returned with larger depth because the match went on, pinning Pospisil deep behind the baseline along with his penetrating forehand. The 22-year-old additionally started to search out the ft of the onrushing Pospisil with extra consistency, forcing his countryman into errors within the second and third set tie-breaks to maneuver forward.
Auger-Aliassime then wore Pospisil down within the fourth set, pulling him from nook to nook to advance.
The 2022 Australian Open quarter-finalist Auger-Aliassime is chasing his maiden Grand Slam title this fortnight in Melbourne. He arrives on the first main of the season off the again of a career-best season in 2022, when he received 4 tour-level titles.
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