The fifth day of the 2023 Australian Open was one when Félix Auger-Aliassime acquired nearer to discovering his prime type, and likewise one with a devastating five-set loss for Denis Shapovalov.
Auger-Aliassime acquired off to simply his greatest begin of the occasion to date on his method to a 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Francisco Cerundolo whereas it was the other with Shapovalov. He had possibilities in each the primary and second units after which mounted a stirring comeback solely to fall brief 7-6(3), 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 6-3 in opposition to No. 10 seed Hubert Hurkacz.
Again within the pleasant confines of John Cain Area, the place he defeated Vasek Pospisil in 4 units on Monday, Auger-Aliassime jumped out to a fast 5-0 lead on his method to taking the primary set 6-1 in opposition to the No. 28-seeded Cerundolo. Within the second set the 24-year-old Argentine settled in and took benefit of a drop-off by Auger-Aliassime. Nonetheless he needed to push it too the max simply to complete off the set – saving 4 break factors serving at 5-4, every with a jaw-dropping winner.
However Auger-Aliassime shortly reasserted management within the third set, breaking within the fourth and sixth video games with some lethal shot-making. One other break to 3-2 within the fourth was all he wanted to cruise to victory in two hours and 35 minutes.
“I’ve been enjoying properly the final three years right here,” Auger-Aliassime mentioned in his post-match, on-court interview, “third time in a row within the spherical of 16.”
In regards to the match, he famous, “I had an important begin in comparison with my two first rounds (Pospisil and Slovak Alex Molcan in spherical two) so it was higher and form of gave me a little bit cushion. Towards powerful opponents there’s going to be ups and downs I used to be enjoying a bit tight and never going for it within the second set, and he did. So credit score to him. However I’m pleased with the way in which I turned it round within the final two units. They have been a few of my greatest ones to date this event. Some great things.’’
Auger-Aliassime, now the final Canadian in singles, completed with 38 winners and 30 unforced errors to 22 and 38 for the No. 30-ranked Cerundolo. Most important, when it comes to the stress he placed on the Cerundolo serve, was his break level possibilities and a conversion ratio of 6/20 to simply 2/6 for the Argentine.
Auger-Aliassime confirmed some frustration whereas struggling via a sub-par stretch within the second set and later defined, “I wasn’t pleased with how the second set was going, and it form of carried on a bit after that. Possibly it was my ego that was a little bit upset as a result of issues weren’t going as I wished them, in comparison with how I had began. I used to be mad at myself however then later that modified and I used to be in a calmer area, extra concentrated. It was only a frustration with how issues have been going – nevertheless it was truly a very good frustration to assist me keep concentrated, Generally it’s not that form of frustration like if you’re simply complaining or whining That’s the distinction and immediately that was the appropriate manner for me.”
Auger-Aliassime continues to be scuffling with the AO balls, however is making progress getting acclimatized to them. “I simply did a bit with my stringing – had a decrease rigidity,” he mentioned. “And that particularly helped with my serve. Nothing has modified with the balls from the primary matches. It’s for positive they favour gamers who hit flat. When it’s colder than it was final week it favours guys extra like Jenson [Brooksby] than Casper [Ruud]. (The American upset the second-seeded Norwegian within the second spherical.) I attempted to regulate because the match went on. I attempted just a few drop photographs and backhand slices to maintain the ball low hoping that the man would possibly miss the ball or hit it up so I can do one thing with it. I attempted to do what I do with my forehand – going ahead and hitting via the ball. You probably have an excessive amount of spin with these balls, it’s not the very best thought. So I attempted to hit via the courtroom. I adjusted and it labored properly.”
In Sunday’s round-of-16, Auger-Aliassime is not going to face No. 11 seed Cameron Norrie as anticipated after the he seed was upset in 5 units by No. 71-ranked Jiri Lehecka. Auger-Aliassime’s round-of-16 in opposition to the wiry 21-year-old Czech will likely be a primary assembly for the gamers. A win Sunday for him and for third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas would arrange an mouth-watering quarter-final.
The Auger-Aliassime – Cerundolo match completed earlier than the evening session and earlier than Shapovalov confronted No. 10 seed Hurkacz. Each are good buddies of Auger-Aliassime and he spoke concerning the match-up. “It’s a tricky third spherical for each of them. It’s a tough match as a result of Hurkacz is High 10 and has to play Shapovalov within the third spherical, and for Shapo too. It’s the form of match that will likely be powerful for whoever loses. For considered one of them will probably be tough to just accept [the result] after they to go residence tonight,”
He was definitely prescient about that as a result of his Davis Cup teammate Shapovalov took the defeat exhausting. Notably as a result of he misplaced the primary set after serving for it at 5-4 and the second set after main it 2-0, 40-15 and serving.
His head was down and he appeared disconsolate, mushing together with his blond hair whereas answering questions concerning the loss after midnight earlier than a comfortable group of reporters. He used the phrase “heart-breaking” in describing the loss.
“I used to be up within the first two units,” he mentioned, “getting a kind of would have modified the match for positive. It’s a little bit bit tough making an attempt to win three units in opposition to a man who’s a High 10 participant – powerful that I wasn’t capable of shut out the primary set and maintain the break within the second.”
In a extra reflective vein after ending his sixth Australian Open, and a 12 months after shedding to eventual champion Rafael Nadal within the 2022 quarter-finals, Shapovalov mentioned about dealing with Hurkacz, “I felt good about my possibilities moving into. Clearly he’s acquired the higher of us [me] within the head-to-head (now 4-1) however I really feel fairly good each time we follow in opposition to one another. I normally get the higher of him.
“I feel simply nerves performed an enormous half within the match immediately. So sadly I simply wasn’t capable of management the feelings too properly. That’s one thing that I’m engaged on – so I’ll hold working and attempt to get higher at that. I feel immediately was a little bit bit simply nerves. I’ve all of the instruments. I’ve all of the weapons. It’s nearly having the ability to put them collectively and enjoying huge within the huge moments.”
As is commonly the case with the 23-year-old Shapovalov, the match had its suits and begins – together with occasions within the third and fourth units when his superior firepower merely overwhelmed Hurkacz. At occasions it made it exhausting to think about how he might lose. However there was additionally inconsistency and plenty of double faults – 16 (to go along with 20 aces) – that must be excessive on his record of points to work on.
Whereas Shapovalov’s shot-making was breath-taking in a lot of the third and fourth units – hitting 26 winners to 11 for Hurkacz – the 25-year-old Pole did make a profitable effort to select up the tempo within the decisive fifth set. “I knew I wanted to be extra aggressive to compete with Denis as a result of clearly he’s an important front-foot participant,” Hurkacz mentioned. “You don’t need to let him dictate.”
It appears to be like just like the No. 22 Shapovalov will drop to at the least No. 25 within the subsequent ATP rankings in two weeks.
DABROWSKI DOUBLES
In doubles motion on Friday, the No. 3-seeded group of Gabriela Dabrowski and Giuliana Olmos of Mexico (image above) superior to the second spherical, and Dabrowski additionally acquired off to a different good begin, successful in blended doubles with Australian associate Max Purcell.
Two different pairs involving Canadians weren’t as profitable – Leylah Annie Fernandez and American associate Bethanie Mattek-Sands (above) and Rebecca Marino and Madison Brengle of the U.S. each misplaced their first-round matches.
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