Félix Auger-Aliassime triumphed over fellow Canadian Gabriel Diallo with a score of 6-2, 7-5 in the first round of the Basel Tennis Tournament in Switzerland on Wednesday morning. This match marked the first meeting between the two players on the ATP circuit, lasting one hour and 50 minutes.
Auger-Aliassime Aims for His Third Title
Auger-Aliassime, seeded fifth in the tournament, is chasing his third career title in Basel after victories in 2022 and 2023. He will face Croatian player Marin Cilic, ranked 89th in the world, in the round of 16. Cilic secured his spot by defeating Belgian David Goffin 7-6 (9), 7-5.
The Match Breakdown
The match showcased Auger-Aliassime’s strong performance, beginning with effective serving and aggressive returns. He broke Diallo’s serve in the third game to take a 2-1 lead and made another break in the seventh game, extending his advantage to 5-2. Auger-Aliassime concluded the first set with an ace, ending the set after 35 minutes of play.
The second set was more competitive. Auger-Aliassime broke serve early, only for Diallo to respond by breaking back immediately. However, Auger-Aliassime remained patient and seized a critical break in the 11th game to take a 6-5 lead, ultimately finishing the match on his service game.
Statistics of the Match
| Player | Aces | Double Faults | Break Points Converted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Félix Auger-Aliassime | 8 | 4 | 4/12 |
| Gabriel Diallo | 8 | 6 | 1/4 |
In pursuit of a spot in the ATP Finals, Auger-Aliassime’s performance in Basel will be crucial. Meanwhile, in the Tokyo tournament, Gabriela Dabrowski successfully advanced with her partner Sofia Kenin in the women’s doubles, defeating the Japanese pair of Miyu Kato and Makoto Ninomiya 6-3, 6-3.
They will next face Brazilian Luisa Stefani and Hungarian Timea Babos in the quarter-finals. Additionally, Canadian players Victoria Mboko and Bianca Andreescu are set to compete for a place in the semi-finals later on Wednesday against Japanese Shuko Aoyama and Spaniard Cristina Bucsa.
