MELBOURNE, Australia - Some 24 hours after Denis Shapovalov reached his first Australian Open males’s singles quarterfinal, his pal and countryman Félix Auger-Aliassime joined him within the last eight.
Auger-Aliassime overcame a quick and livid begin by 2018 finalist Marin Cilic and held on tight till he might flip issues round, in a 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory on a steamy day in Melbourne that challenged even the fittest tennis gamers on this planet.
Fellow Canadian Milos Raonic has reached the quarterfinals or higher on the Australian Open 5 instances.
However that is the primary time two Canadians have completed it in the identical yr. And it’s the second time within the final three Grand Slam tournaments that they've completed it.
It’s additionally the third consecutive Grand Slam event by which Auger-Aliassime has reached a minimum of the quarterfinal stage.
Now it will get even harder, as the 2 tackle the 2 greatest favorites to take the title among the many eight who will stay after Monday’s play.
On Wednesday, Auger-Aliassime will play No. 2 seed Daniil Medvedev, who survived the throwback serve-volley sport of American Maxime Cressy – in addition to the warmth and a few bodily woes – to advance on Monday.
However earlier than that, Shapovalov will sq. off towards 20-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal on Tuesday.
“I’m thrilled for him, and thrilled for Canadian tennis. I feel we’re each exhibiting that we’re not right here by likelihood. We’re proving week after week that we’re right here to remain,” Auger-Aliassime mentioned.
The Montreal native had managed only one set in three earlier losses to the Croat.
/https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/sports/tennis/2022/01/24/canadas-auger-aliassime-advances-to-qf-at-australian-open-with-victory-over-cilic/20220123230144-61ee2f6f71b6ac0d8a3836c8jpeg.jpg)
Cilic was almost untouchable within the first set; there wasn’t a lot Auger-Aliassime might do.
The 21-year-old Canadian was erratic on the forehand, too – an issue he’s spent the final couple of years on tour attempting to resolve.
He held on by his fingernails, ready for Cilic’s very good stage to drop, and for his personal to rise.
“I attempted to remain involved, discover a resolution little by little. And I began to serve higher within the second set,” Auger-Aliassime mentioned. “In comparison with different instances I performed him, there was much less panic on my half. I stayed calmer. I believed in myself a bit extra, and I feel that’s what made the distinction on the finish,” he added. “It’s a pleasant enchancment for me, in numerous elements of my sport.”
Medvedev is one other participant Auger-Aliassime has but to beat in three tries.
He got here closest of their first assembly, on the Nationwide Financial institution Open in Toronto in 2018 as Auger-Aliassime was simply turning 18.
Medvedev received in a third-set tiebreak.
“We’ve each developed all through the instances we performed. That first time (in 2018) he wasn’t the Medvedev of right now, and I’m not the identical both,” Auger-Aliassime mentioned.
“On the US Open (Medvedev received in straight units final September, in Auger-Aliassime’s first Grand Slam semifinal look, and received the event), my stage was fairly good. I had a set level on my racquet within the second set. The match may need been a bit totally different, had I transformed it,” the Canadian mentioned.
The 2 met once more within the semifinals of the ATP Cup earlier this month in Sydney. That was a 6-4, 6-0 win for Medvedev.
“That one was largely in his favour. I’ll see what I can enhance, as a result of I’ll need to be higher than that bodily and mentally to stick with him,” Auger-Aliassime mentioned.
Canadian tennis followers have been up till all hours due to the 16-hour time distinction, watching the 2 Canadian males attain the latter phases of the primary Grand Slam event of the season.
Auger-Aliassime hopes the Melbourne sunshine – and the profitable – generally is a little bit of a distraction from all that’s happening again dwelling.
“With the very chilly winter, the pandemic protocols and confinement, I hope we are able to put smiles on peoples’ faces,” he mentioned.
He additionally hopes it sends a message about Canadian tennis.
“I hope it provides the concept to individuals again dwelling that that is doable. I imply, we have now completed it. I actually imagine that different Canadians can try this as effectively, although we weren't initially a tennis nation,” he mentioned. “I feel now we actually are. We've got proven that time and again.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 23, 2022.