Montreal’s Félix Auger-Aliassime secured a spot in the Round of 16 at the Paris Masters by defeating France’s Alexandre Muller in a closely contested match. Auger-Aliassime’s strong serve, with 21 aces and an average speed of 206 kilometres per hour, played a key role in his victory. Currently ranked ninth, Auger-Aliassime aims for a deep run in the ATP 1000 event to close the gap on eighth-ranked Lorenzo Musetti in the ATP Race To Turin standings. Auger-Aliassime benefited from Musetti’s unexpected loss to Lorenzo Sonego.
Having recently won an ATP 250 event in Belgium but retiring due to a back injury in a previous tournament, Auger-Aliassime faced a tough challenge. Muller initially took the lead by breaking Auger-Aliassime, but the Canadian fought back, forcing a tiebreak and eventually overcoming deficits to secure the win.
Auger-Aliassime is set to compete against Daniel Altmaier in the Round of 16, holding a 1-2 career record against the German. Known for his tiebreak prowess, Auger-Aliassime has a high winning percentage in tiebreaks, showcasing his ability to handle pressure situations effectively.
In another match, Montreal’s Gabriel Diallo faced a defeat against sixth-seeded Australian Alex de Minaur. Meanwhile, Leylah Fernandez advanced to the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Open with a dominant performance against Germany’s Eva Lys, winning 6-4, 6-1. Fernandez, who recently clinched the Japan Open title, continues her winning streak and will meet seventh-seeded Sorana Cirstea in the next round. Victoria Mboko, another Canadian player, is set to play against Alexandra Eala of the Philippines in her upcoming match.