Felix Auger-Aliassime failed to make it past the first round at Wimbledon last year.
The marathon match was of more than four hours. The ninth racket in the world and sixth seed lost 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (9), 7-6 (5) to the American Maxime Cressy.
The two players did not give the opponent a thumbs up on serve. There were only five breaking opportunities exchanged in this match. Among them Auger-Aliassime offered. Cressy was only able to convert one in the second inning.
This is the first victory in five duels against tennis players in the top 10 in the world. The 25-year-old American stepped on the grass of the All England Club for the first time.
It was also the first confrontation between the two men.
Auger-Aliassime delivered a first match ball on an overly strong forehand in the tiebreaker of the fourth set.
On his second service ball, Cressy opted for a serve-volley. And sent the ball away from Auger-Aliassime on his right.
The 21-year-old Quebecer could not join her until he made a second jump. This confirms the victory of Cressy.
He dominated with 28 aces and 64 winning shots (against 18 and 59). Auger-Aliassime had a little less success on the first serve than his opponent, 60 against 63%.
But it was on the second serve that the difference was most pronounced. Cressy won 635 of the balls played on such occasions, compared to only 50% for Auger-Aliassime. Auger also committed eight double faults and 27 direct fouls.
Neck and neck
Both players won their serve throughout the first set. The only breaking ball of the set was obtained by Auger-Aliassime, at 5-5, but Cressy saved it.
This is the only breaking ball that the American will offer in the entire duel.
At the tiebreaker, Auger-Aliassime got the mini-break on Cressy’s first serve. The American then committed a double fault to allow the sixth seed to take a 3-2 lead.
Cressy won the next two exchanges to create a three-point gap, which proved impossible. Auger-Aliassime took the set off on his second set ball.
The match’s first break will finally belong to Cressy, who won in the third game of the second set to take the lead 2-1.
Both players kept their serve until the end of the set, allowing Cressy to create the tie in the match.
At the break of the third set, the two tennis players saved two balls of innings.
The third will be the right one for Cressy, who was offered it on a silver platter by Auger-Aliassime.
Auger committed a double fault. His fifth of the match at that time gave the 25-year-old American the lead and the advantage.
Auger-Aliassime showed some nice flashes in the fourth set. But Cressy didn’t give up anything, and his inspired play got him into the second round.
Shapovalov has taken to a 5th set
Moments later, on Field No. 16, Auger-Aliassime’s compatriot Denis Shapovalov needed five sets to defeat Arthur Rinderknech 6-1, 6-7, 6-7, 6-4, 6-1.
The 13th Seeded in the competition flew over the first set 6-1 and saw his rival fight back afterward. The 62nd World Racket took away the honors of the next two sets in the tiebreaker.
Shapovalov forced a final set by winning 6-4 and went on to victory afterward.
In the next round, the Canadian has a match with the American and 56th player in the standings, Brandon Nakashima.
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