Auger-Aliassime ready to face Shapovalov after winning in second round
Felix Auger-Aliassime has set up a Canadian clash with Denis Shapovalov after a win in the second round of the Barcelona Open.
The 10th-seeded Auger-Aliassime, who is from Montreal, downed Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0, at the claycourt tennis event Wednesday.
The victory sets up a thirdround match between the seventh-seeded Shapovalov, who hails from Richmond Hill, Ont., and Auger-Aliassime at the ATP Tour 500 tournament At the top level in the head-to-head series, the two Canadians have split four matches.
Auger-Aliassime won the only match on clay in 2019 in Madrid.
Born one year apart, the 22year-old Shapovalov and 20year-old Auger-Aliassime are longtime friends.
Shapovalov stayed at the Auger-Aliassime family’s house for part of his improbable run to the Rogers Cup semifinals in ’17.
Against the 87th-ranked Musetti, Auger-Aliassime saved six of eight break points in the three-set match.
The Canadian won 75 per cent of points when he got his first serve in, 18 percentage points better than what his opponent could muster.
Shapovalov beat France’s Jeremy Chardy in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5, in the second round on Tuesday.