Felix Auger-Aliassime bought off to a quick begin on the 2024 Paris Olympics, dismantling American Marcos Giron 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the second spherical.
The 23-year-old from Montreal wanted simply 65 minutes to topple his opponent, firing 10 aces and changing 13 of 14 factors at web within the straight units victory.
Competing in his second profession Olympic Video games, the Canadian seemed poised from the get-go, controlling play along with his serve and baseline recreation.
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He made the primary transfer on the scoreboard within the fourth recreation of the opening set, pressuring Giron with high quality returns and heavy groundstrokes. He’d convert on his second break level alternative, because the 31-year-old American double faulted.
The three-1 lead can be greater than sufficient for the Canadian; Auger-Aliassime sprinted by way of the next three video games, profitable 12 of the ultimate 14 factors to grab the opening set 6-1 in 25 minutes.
Giron opened the second with a service maintain, nevertheless it did little to halt the proficient right-hander’s momentum. After a snug maintain to like, the Canadian once more pressured the world No. 38 and transformed his third break level likelihood of the sport to maneuver forward 2-1.
The benefit stored the the 23-year-old firmly in management, as he continued his service dominance within the second set. He held serve at love three extra occasions, firing his tenth ace on match level to clinch the win in straight units.
Auger-Aliassime gained 37 of 40 factors on serve and hit 26 winners within the medical victory, securing his place within the second spherical of Paris.
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It’s his first profession singles win on the Olympics, as he improves to 22-16 on the calendar 12 months.
He’ll face the winner of Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic and Max Marterer of Germany within the second spherical.
Koepfer outlasts Raonic
In the meantime, Milos Raonic got here up simply quick in singles, falling to Germany’s Dominik Koepfer in three tiebreaks, 6-7(2), 7-6(5), 7-6(1) in Paris on Sunday.
The world No. 63 was the extra constant of the 2 gamers within the last stretches, overcoming the Canadian in 2 hours and 23 minutes to advance to the second spherical of the Olympics.
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Competing at his first Summer season Video games since London 2012, Raonic seemed calm and poised on the clay courts at Roland-Garros, utilizing his big serve to maintain Koepfer off steadiness.
Within the opening set, Raonic fought off an early break level likelihood with an ace to carry for an early 2-1 lead.
The pair stayed stage till the enterprise finish of the set, getting into a tiebreak at 6-all. From there, the 33-year-old veteran from Thornhill raised his aggression, racing to a fast 6-0 lead. He would shut out the primary on his third set level, firing an ace to take the opener 7-6(2) in 48 minutes.
Undeterred, Koepfer started the second set with a maintain to like, controlling baseline play by opening up angles along with his left-handed groundstrokes. He had his third have a look at a break level forward 2-1, although Raonic once more hit an ace to flee stress.
The 2 once more traded holds till a tiebreaker – this time, the German took management, smacking a backhand winner to guide 4-2 on the change of ends. The mini break proved decisive as he closed out the second on serve 7-6(5) in 49 minutes to even the match at one set apiece.
The third set adopted the identical script, and neither participant created a break level likelihood as they traded 12 consecutive holds of serve to go to a deciding tiebreak.
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Raonic’s consistency let him down within the last levels – an early double fault and two expensive forehand errors put Koepfer firmly in management with a 4-1 benefit. The 30-year-old German would win the subsequent three factors to shut out the match and notch his third profession singles win on the Olympics.
Now that he’s out of the singles draw, the previous Wimbledon finalist will flip his consideration to doubles as he groups up with Félix Auger-Aliassime.
