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It was an extended day on the workplace for Félix Auger-Aliassime on Friday on the Italian Open in Rome that finally led to disappointment for the Montreal native. The 22-year-old was ousted 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 by Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in his opening match on the ATP Masters 100 event. It was an extended, tightly contested encounter that went previous the three-hour mark and finally, Popyrin got here up with the products in crunch time to come back away with the victory.
The opening set remained even till 4-4 when Popyrin, ranked no. 77 on the earth, received an prolonged recreation that went on for greater than 10 minutes on Auger-Aliassime’s serve to earn the decisive break and earn the early benefit.
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It seemed just like the Aussie is perhaps headed for a straight units win as he continued to push Auger-Aliassime with an clever all-around recreation that was actually clicking, particularly at internet with a number of spectacular volleys, however the world no. 10 held agency and elevated his play simply in time to get a maintain and a break from 4-4 to stage the match.
The 2 gamers continued to go toe-to-toe within the closing body and as soon as once more it was Popyrin who had all of the break level probabilities, 16 in complete through the contest, and he lastly transformed one within the tenth recreation at 5-5 because of a spotlight reel backhand passing shot winner that left Auger-Aliassime surprised. He efficiently served out the match to notch his third Prime 10 victory of the 2023 season, two of which have come in opposition to the Canadian No. 1. Popyrin, who took dwelling the French Open junior title in 2017, additionally beat Auger-Aliassime on dwelling soil in Adelaide in January.
Friday’s loss signifies that Auger-Aliassime enters the second Grand Slam occasion of the 12 months at Roland-Garros and not using a singles win on clay, so the hope is that the additional apply time will assist him adequately put together for Paris.
Bianca Andreescu will look to make sure a Canadian presence in singles within the third spherical of the Italian Open when she takes on Czech Marketa Vondrousova at 1 p.m. ET on TSN and RDS.
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