Felix Auger-Aliassime, recovering from a recent back injury that sidelined him at the National Bank Open, showcased strong form at the Cincinnati Open. The 26-year-old Montreal native advanced to the Round of 16 by defeating Juan Manuel Cerundolo from Argentina with a score of 7-5, 6-1 on Tuesday evening.
In a swift performance lasting one hour and 27 minutes, Auger-Aliassime outplayed Cerundolo in the Round of 32 singles match. His next challenge will be against Frances Tiafoe, who emerged victorious in a two-hour and ten-minute battle against Learner Tien, winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in an all-American clash.
Auger-Aliassime kicked off his campaign with a solid victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas, triumphing with a score of 6-3, 7-5 in the initial match on Sunday. In his recent match against Cerundolo, Auger-Aliassime recorded six aces, five double faults, 22 unforced errors, and 19 winners. He secured three out of nine return games and held all nine service games.
Having withdrawn from the NBO in Montreal due to a back injury sustained during training, Auger-Aliassime, the former No. 2 seed at the Canadian tournament, is now showing promising form in Cincinnati. Notable absences from the NBO included World No. 1 and Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner, who opted to prioritize his health, as well as World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, the record holder for male Grand Slam titles.