Felix Auger-Aliassime digs deep for major comeback at Aussie Open

Article content material

MELBOURNE, Australia — Two units into his delayed second-round singles match on Monday night time, social media was abuzz with pending upset alerts.

Article content material

It appeared, after uninspired 6-3, 6-3 setbacks, that sixth-seeded Félix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal was going to change into the second main upset of the 2023 Australian Open.

Article content material

However Alex Molcan, the 25-year-old Slovakian singles star, sputtered after which collapsed, as Auger-Aliassime stormed again with spirited 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victories to keep away from an early exit at Melbourne Park.

Auger-Aliassime, who struggled out of the gates within the first spherical earlier than bouncing Vasek Pospisil of Vancouver in 4 units, began even slower towards Molcan, however appeared by the fourth set to have run his rival out of fuel.

“I had perception in myself after successful the third set. I had come again earlier than and I felt I might do it once more. However boy, it was a troublesome day,” stated Auger-Aliassime, who completed with 23 aces within the match that took three hours and three minutes to finish.

Article content material

Auger-Aliassime is about to face Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina within the third spherical.

In the meantime, Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., was a 6-3, 7-6, 7-5 winner over Japan’s Taro Daniel.

Shapovalov, seeded twentieth on the match, fired eight aces to Daniel’s one and gained 73 per cent of his first serves.

The Canadian additionally broke Daniel six occasions on 9 makes an attempt.

Shapovalov will subsequent face both Hubert Hurkaczvs of Poland or Lorenzo Sonego of Italy.

All of the matches on Monday night time have been delayed by 4 to seven hours on account of heavy rains and slippery courts.

Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ontario, who waited nearly 6 1/2 hours to play, was ousted by Cristina Bucsa of Moldova 2-6, 7-6, 6-5.

Bucsa will meet the top-ranked Iga Swiatek of Poland within the third spherical.

Laval’s Leylah Fernandez is scheduled to satisfy No. 4 Carolina Garcia of France in a second-round match on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET.