A Few 24 hours after Denis Shapovalov reached his first Australian Open men’s singles quarter-final, his loved one and countryman Felix Auger-Aliassime joined him in the final 8.
Auger-Aliassime overcame a fast and furious get started by 2018 finalist Marin Cilic and hung on tight until he could flip things around, in a 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2, 7-6 (FOUR) victory on a steamy day in Melbourne that challenged even the fittest tennis players in the global.
Fellow Canadian Milos Raonic has reached the quarter-finals or higher at the Australian Open five instances.
However this is the first time two Canadians have performed it in the related year. And it is the 2nd time in the last three Grand Slam tournaments that they have got done it.
additionally it is the 3rd consecutive Grand Slam match during which Auger-Aliassime has reached a minimum of the quarter-final level.
Now it gets even tougher, as they tackle the two largest favourites to take the identify among the eight who will remain after Monday’s play.
WATCH | Auger-Aliassime beats Cilic in 4 units:
Auger-Aliassime defeats Cilic, reaches third consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final
Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime advances to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open with a 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-2, 7-6(FOUR) victory over Croatia’s Marin Cilic. 2:52
On Wednesday, Auger-Aliassime will play No. 2 seed Daniil Medvedev, who survived the throwback serve-volley game of yank Maxime Cressy — besides as the warmth and some bodily woes — to increase on Monday 6-2, 7-6 (FOUR), 6-7 (FOUR), 7-5.
Canada’s Shapovalov upsets global No. THREE Zverev at Australian Open, faces Nadal in quarters
the second-ranked Medvedev is attempting to develop into the first guy in the Open era to win his second top singles identify within the next Grand Slam event. He’s now doubtlessly 3 wins from attaining that.
Medvedev was once a runner-up in Australia last year however avenged that with a win over Novak Djokovic within the U.S. Open final. Djokovic is not defending his Australian Open identify after being deported at the eve of the yr’s first best for failing to satisfy the united states of america’s strict COVID-19 vaccination standards.
Cressy’s serve-and-volley taste created a few frustrations for Medvedev, who stated past due within the fourth set that this was once the “most unlucky day I Have ever had in my life.” His luck changed briefly. After saving eight break-aspect chances within the set, Cressy was broken in that recreation and Medvedev served out at love.
“Hell of a fit,” Medvedev mentioned.
Shapovalov faces Nadal
However before that, Shapovalov will sq. off against 20-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal on Tuesday.
“I’m thrilled for him, and thrilled for Canadian tennis. i feel we’re each appearing that we are not right here by chance. We’re proving week after week that we’re here to stay,” Auger-Aliassime said.
The Montreal local had managed only one set in three previous losses to Cilic.
The Croat was nearly untouchable within the first set; there wasn’t much Auger-Aliassime may just do.
The 21-12 months-vintage Canadian used to be erratic on the forehand, too — a problem he’s spent the final couple of years on excursion looking to get to the bottom of.
He held on through his fingernails, waiting for Cilic’s superb stage to drop, and for his personal to rise.
“i tried to stay involved, find a solution little via little. And I started to serve higher within the second set,” Auger-Aliassime stated.
“in comparison to different instances I performed him, there was much less panic on my section. I stayed calmer. i assumed in myself slightly more, and i feel that is what made the adaptation on the end,” he went on. “it is a great improvement for me, in more than a few facets of my sport.”
Medvedev is every other participant Auger-Aliassime has yet to beat in three tries.
He got here closest of their first assembly, on the National Bank Open in Toronto in 2018 as Auger-Aliassime was just turning 18. Medvedev received in a 3rd-set tiebreak.
Medvedev additionally won in directly sets at the U.S. Open remaining September, in Auger-Aliassime’s first Grand Slam semifinal appearance, and received the tournament.
“We Have Now both developed inside the instances we played. That first time he wasn’t the Medvedev of as of late, and i’m now not the similar either,” Auger-Aliassime said.
“at the U.S. Open, my stage was once beautiful excellent. I had a set aspect on my racquet in the 2nd set. The match might have been a bit different, had I converted it.”
the 2 met again within the semifinals of the ATP Cup in advance this month in Sydney. That was once a 6-FOUR, 6-0 win for Medvedev.
“That one used to be in large part in his favour. I’ll see what i can toughen, because I Will have to be better than that physically and mentally to stay with him,” Auger-Aliassime said.
Canadian men making an impact
Canadian tennis lovers had been up till all hours because of the SIXTEEN-hour time distinction, gazing the 2 Canadian males achieve the latter degrees of the first Grand Slam match of the season.
Auger-Aliassime hopes the Melbourne sunshine — and the winning — can also be just a little of a distraction from all that’s happening again house.
“With the very cold wintry weather, the pandemic protocols and confinement, i hope we will positioned smiles on folks’s faces,” he said.
He also hopes it sends a message about Canadian tennis.
“i’m hoping it gives the theory to folks again home that that is imaginable. I imply, we have performed it. i truly consider that different Canadians can do that as well, despite the fact that we weren’t in the beginning a tennis united states,” he mentioned. “i believe now we actually are. we now have shown that over and yet again.”
Tsitsipas outlasts Fritz
Fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas survived a fourth-spherical combat with American Taylor Fritz on Monday, two times coming from a suite behind to win 4-6 6-FOUR FOUR-6 6-3 6-FOUR.
At just past midnight on Rod Laver Enviornment, the Greek ended Fritz’s resistance to arrange a clash with Italian Jannik Sinner, when he’ll be seeking to reach the semifinals here for the third time in his career.
Tsitsipas, 23, appeared out of varieties and edgy now and then but his greater revel in at the big stage eventually advised as he got the decisive holiday within the 5th set before claiming victory.
Fritz, enjoying in his first Grand Slam fourth round, converted handiest two of his 15 holiday issues and can rue a overlooked opportunity to change into the primary American male to succeed in a Grand Slam quarter-final for 2 years.
“It used to be an epic match, that’s all i will say. I gave everything available in the market on the court docket today,” Tsitsipas stated. “I Am happy with the best way I fought.
“I’m overwhelmed. It’s too good to be real. I knew it was going to be physical, and i knew I had to be patient and in the end it paid off.”