24th January, 2022
Canadian tennis star Felix Auger-Aliassime has reached his first Australian Open quarterfinal, beating veteran Croatian Marin Cilic 2-6 7-6(7) 6-2 7-6(4).
The ninth seed outlasted Cilic at the Australian Open on Monday, to join fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov.
Auger-Aliassime will next meet on Wednesday Number two seed, Daniil Medvedev, who beat American Maxime Cressy in four sets 6-2 6-7 7-6 7-5.
Shapovalov will meet Rafa Nadal, who is hoping to be the first male tennis player to win 21 Grand slams.
Cilic raced through the first set in his match against Auger-Aliassime in only 35 minutes.
But the long second set proved pivotal.
Auger-Aliassime squandered four set points under a baking afternoon sun, while also saving one with an ace.
But the 21-year-old finally won the set at the fifth opportunity to even the match, and dominated the next set as 33-year-old Cilic’s errors mounted.
Cilic became frustrated at the length of time his opponent took between serves.
Both players held serve in the fourth set to set up a tiebreaker, in which Auger-Aliassime prevailed with outstanding serving.
He closed it out with an ace in front of a small but excited crowd.