Credit: Geoff Burke – USA TODAY Sports
Felix Auger-Aliassime beat two sets behind him and defeated Peruvian Juan Pablo Farias 2-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 in the first round of the French Open in Paris on Sunday.
Auger-Aliassime, ninth in the tournament, overcame the slow start to win all of his first 12 service points in the fourth set. The 21-year-old Canadian came into eighth of the fifth game on his way to victory in three hours and 13 minutes.
This win was the first of three French Open attempts for Auger-Aliassime, who has run deep in each of the other three Grand Slam tournaments.
“It was disappointing in the match to see how it would go, I was really hoping it would get better,” said Auger-Aliassime.
“But I think that’s why I really wanted to push myself and really try everything. … I feel like I just let it all out on the pitch. Because this was an important day for me and it was such an important victory. I really wanted to have it. This She’s the first here.”
Oger Eliasim is waiting for the winner of the confrontation between Russian Aslan Karatsev and Argentine Camilo Ugo Karapelli.
While Auger-Aliassime was essentially pushed to his limit on Sunday, Bulgarian 18th seed Grigor Dimitrov entered the second round with a convincing 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 victory over Marcos Giron.
German third seed Alexander Zverev also needed only three sets to continue the tournament. He beat Austrian Sebastian Offner 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 49 minutes.
“(I) am very happy,” Zverev said in his court interview. “I usually start a Grand Slam with a five-set match and a few hours on the field, but today (coach Serge Bruguera) told me not to, so I listened to him once! I am happy with the match, especially against Sebastian who has already played three games here. He plays well. Very well, so I’m happy to start here.”
Argentine No. 15 Diego Schwartzman scored a 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Russian Andrei Kuznetsov.
National Kuznetsov, seeded 21, advanced Karen Khachanov with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Portuguese Nuno Borges.
John Isner 23 and Dutchman Puckett van de Zandschulp also needed four sets to close out their rivals. He defeated French-American Quentin Halles 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (6), while Van de Zandschulp won 6-3, 3-6, 6. 3, 6. – 2 victory over Russia, Pavel Kotov.
no. No luck was 25 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain and 31st Jenson Broxby.
Dutchman Talon Grixpor beat Davidovich Fokina in the first set 2-6, 6-0, 6-4, 6-3, while Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas qualified for a 6-2, 6-1, 6.-2 victory over Broxby.
Also on Sunday, Austrian Dominic Thiem, a two-time French Open finalist, recovered from the first round. Hugo Delin of Bolivia beat Thiem 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
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