Félix Auger-Aliassime bounced back brilliantly from his early loss at the first Masters 1000 event of the season two weeks ago, powering past Tristan Schoolkate in his opening match at the Miami Open on Friday in straight sets.
It was one-way traffic for the 18th-seeded Canadian, who had a first-round bye, as he started applying pressure early and often. He was hardly threatened on his own serve and was able to advance with a 6-4, 6-4 win.
The Canadian’s serve did its job, as he won 86 per cent of his first serve points and a solid 69 per cent of seconds. He also won 62 per cent of his opponent’s second-serve points. In the rallies, it was all Auger-Aliassime as he had more than twice as many winners as Schoolate, 26 to 12, and almost half the unforced errors, 16 to the Aussie’s 29.
Read also: Fernandez, Diallo Open Miami Campaigns with Wins
Right from the start, it was Auger-Aliassime setting the tone. He had a break point in the opening game and then at 2-2, after holding to love in his first two service games, his aggressiveness paid off when a crisp volley drew an error on break point to seize the advantage.
Even though he failed to add a second break, getting aced on a break point in the seventh game and failing to convert two set points on Schoolkate’s serve at 3-5, one break was enough for Auger-Aliassime. He was never threatened on serve in the opening set, losing just three points and closing it out with a hold to love.
Auger-Aliassime wasted no time in gaining an edge in the second set. In the opening game, a deep return from the Canadian drew an error to set up a double break point and Auger-Aliassime ripped a forehand passing shot past the Aussie to take an immediate break lead.
Read also: Draper, Andreeva Take Indian Wells
For the first time in the match, the Montrealer faced pressure on his serve in the sixth game. A midcourt forehand long by Auger-Aliassime at 30-all set up the first break point against him all match, but he erased it with a massive serve out wide. Like the first set, the one break was enough for the Canadian as he rode his serve the rest of the way.
Next up for the Canadian will be 15th seed Lorenzo Musetti.
