Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime defeats Medvedev to reach quarter-finals in Paris

Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime displayed a large smile after successful his third-round males’s singles match on the Paris Olympics on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old Auger-Aliassime, the thirteenth seed, not solely secured his spot within the quarterfinals but in addition defeated the formidable No. 4 Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6 (5).

It was the Canadian’s first win over Medvedev in eight encounters.

“Clearly, at the beginning, generally, you aren’t positive what to anticipate. It was a difficult first sport, 30-30, you’re a bit tense, however I used to be capable of get by that with good serving and that stored going,” stated Auger-Aliassime, who fired 9 aces to Medvedev’s 5.

The 23-year-old from Montreal gained in a single hour 38 minutes for his first victory in opposition to the Russian, who was competing as an Particular person Impartial Athlete in Paris.

“It felt prefer it was a terrific match, nice stage from either side. Sadly, it was a day when Felix performed very nicely and I nonetheless had possibilities within the second set, however I didn’t use them,” stated Medvedev. “Sadly, that is how tennis is typically.”

Within the subsequent spherical, Auger-Aliassime will play No. 6 Casper Ruud of Norway, who defeated Argentine Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 6-4.

Auger-Aliassime misplaced within the first spherical on the Tokyo Olympics three years in the past.

On Wednesday, Auger-Aliassime was helped by a robust return sport. He additionally continued to excel on his serve, not giving up any break factors to his opponent for the third consecutive match.

“General, I believe with the situations being scorching, clearly he would make me work. He was serving nicely as nicely, I used to be considering ‘Look, simply take each serve, don’t get too annoyed if you’re not getting your possibilities on the return. In case you are lacking just a few photographs, don’t get annoyed. Simply deal with what’s good, deal with holding your serve’ which I used to be doing nicely,” he stated.

“I believe that was the mentality.”

Medvedev, the 2021 U.S. Open champion, took the loss in stride.

“Nevertheless it’s OK, it’s tennis. While you lose you might be annoyed, however I didn’t damage anybody, so it’s OK,” he stated.

Auger-Aliassime was additionally in motion later Wednesday within the combined doubles quarterfinals with Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski. They took on American third seeds Taylor Fritz and Coco Gauff.

In ladies’s doubles, No. 5 seeds Leylah Annie Fernandez of Laval, Que., and Dabrowski had been eradicated within the second spherical, shedding 6-4, 6-0 to the impartial duo of Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider, 

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed on July 31, 2024.