Felix Auger-Aliassime is a two-time US Open semi-finalist | Image Credit: Imago
Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime came back from one set down to defeat Francisco Comesana 7-6, 6-3, 6-3 in their first-round match of the ongoing Paris Masters at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin, on Tuesday evening.
Unseeded Comesana looked more energetic of the two in the first set, pulling off some great winners much to the applause of the crowd. Auger-Aliassime did have a chance to break in the fifth game of the first set, but failed to capitalize. He, however was on the receiving end in the next game itself, and found himself trailing 2-4.
The Canadian was forced to the limits by his rival, making him work hard for every point. He eventually managed to keep his serve at 3-5. Serving for the set, Comesana was down 15-30 in the ninth game, eventually conceding a break point. The Argentine committed an unforced error at a crucial juncture to put Auger-Aliassime back on level terms.
Both were high on alert in the business end of the set and won their service game to force it into the tiebreaker. The ninth seeded player's consecutive shots straight into the net gave Comesana the perfect opportunity to run away with the game, with the latter leading 3-0. The Argentina finally won the first set 7-6.
Auger-Aliassime played with more intent in the second set, trying to make up for the previous mistakes. His consistency paid off in the fourth game, where he awarded himself with three break points, claiming the second one to take a lead of 3-1. He was running away with the set and Comesana could do nothing about it.
Long serves, perfect placements, aces – the two-time US Open semi-finalist was finally getting his grove back. It was time he claimed the set, which he did without dropping a point in the ninth game to win it 6-3. There was everything to play for in the third set!
Only few had expected Comesana to make a comeback after the second set thrashing and it continued in the same way. The momentum shift from the second set was dictating terms in the deciding set as well, with Auger-Alliassime breaking early and gaining a handsome lead of 3-1. It needed a herculean effort from Comesana to win from there.
As a matter of fact, he almost did! It was all square at 3-3, going into the seventh game. The vociferous fans from South America were involved in the game as much as players, pumping up Comesana even more. Auger-Alliassime, however, was not too intimidated by the noise, playing some superb tennis to break back again.
The higher ranked player hardly made any mistakes from there on, rushing through his service games. Aliassime bullied his opponent to commit mistakes, earning two match points. Even though Comesana saved one, a straight down-the-court backhand was long, which ended the game in favour of Auger-Aliassaime 6-7, 6-3, 6-3.
Meanwhile, Poland’s Valentin Vacherot smashed 14th seed Jiri Lehechka of Czechia with scores of 6-1, 6-3 in their opening match of the campaign. The likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, and Karen Khachanov will be in action in the latter half of the day.
