Félix Auger-Aliassime delivered a clinic in energy tennis as he dominated fifteenth seed Ben Shelton of their third-round conflict on the French Open, which took two days to finish as a result of incessant rain that has been wreaking havoc on the yr’s second main.
The pair solely accomplished 9 video games on Friday night earlier than the climate made them wait till morning. Once they returned, it was one-way site visitors for the Twenty first-seeded Canadian who gained 13 of 16 video games on Saturday morning to succeed in the final sixteen at Roland-Garros with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 win.
By way of three matches thus far in Paris, Auger-Aliassime has but to play one that didn’t have a rain delay. Nonetheless, none have slowed down his progress. By reaching the fourth spherical, he matches his greatest end result on the French Open.
It was a matchup between two highly effective gamers and the Canadian confirmed his younger opponent the way it’s achieved, hitting 28 winners to only 18 unforced errors and dropped simply 5 factors on his first serve in your complete match, an 86 per cent win charge. For the second time within the match, Auger-Aliassime didn’t face a break level on serve. The American had greater than twice as many unforced errors as winners, 36 to 17.
Learn additionally: Auger-Aliassime, Shapovalov Make Historical past at Roland-Garros
Shelton’s greatest likelihood to interrupt serve got here within the Canadian’s first service sport of the match, when Auger-Aliassime double-faulted twice and the American received to deuce. However nonetheless no break factors have been seen and Auger-Aliassime received out unscathed. Shelton wouldn’t win greater than two factors in a sport on the Montrealer’s serve for the remainder of the match.
Within the very subsequent sport, sloppy play from Shelton price him as an error arrange a break level for Auger-Aliassime and the American proceeded to double-fault, gifted the early result in the Canadian.
Learn additionally: Fernandez Overwhelmed by Jabeur in Roland-Garros Third Spherical
That lone break held in the course of the opening set. Auger-Aliassime had an opportunity to interrupt for the set at 5-3 however Shelton saved it with a winner. The Twenty first-seed then needed to wait as play was postponed earlier than he might serve for it at 5-4, with the match finally being held over till Saturday morning.
Once they returned, Auger-Aliassime got here out flying. He instantly held to take the set after which as soon as once more took benefit of errors from Shelton to interrupt within the opening sport of the second. The following time the American stepped as much as the road, he handed the Montrealer one other break by hitting three consecutive unforced errors. In whole, Auger-Aliassime gained the primary 5 video games after play resumed to shut out the primary set and go up 4-0 within the second.
Learn additionally: ATP Energy Rankings Forward of Roland-Garros
Set three adopted an analogous script. Shelton was unable to maintain up within the rallies together with his opponent’s highly effective, constant hitting and threw away the break in an error-filled opening sport to start out the third set.
A maintain to like for 1-2 was all of the American might handle within the ultimate set as Auger-Aliassime saved him below fixed strain. The Canadian gained the final 4 video games in a row, breaking twice together with within the ultimate sport, to e book his spot within the final sixteen at Roland-Garros for the second time in his profession.
The final time Auger-Aliassime reached the fourth spherical of the French Open, he went up towards a celebrity Spaniard. He must undergo a special one, albeit one in search of his first title in Paris fairly than his 14th.
Carlos Alcaraz now stands between the Montrealer and a primary quarter-final at Roland-Garros, the one main the place he has not reached the final eight. Auger-Aliassime truly leads the head-to-head with Carlos Alcaraz 3-2, though the Spaniard has gained the final two conferences. This can be their first conflict on clay.
Denis Shapovalov can be alleged to wrap up his spherical three match on Saturday. He and Hurkacz have been additionally compelled to cease on Friday as a result of rain with the Pole lead Shapovalov two units to like.
Bianca Andreescu will tackle No. 12 seed Jasmine Paolini in her third-round match as effectively.
