Andreescu falls, other Canadians advance
TENNIS
Canada’s Félix AugerAliassime and Leylah Fernandez advanced to the third round of the French Open on Wednesday, while Bianca Andreescu was eliminated in straight sets. Auger-Aliassime made quick work of qualifier Camilo Ugo Carabelli — 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 — to reach the third round of the Paris major for the first time. The 21-year-old from Montreal, seeded ninth, fired eight aces and converted five of 10 break points in a dominating display on clay at Roland Garros.
Auger-Aliassime looked much more confident against Carabelli than he did in his shaky openinground victory — 2-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 — over another qualifier, Juan Pablo Varillas, on Sunday.
“It was a better start than my first round, for sure,” he said. “I think that gave me confidence that if I kept going this way and won my service games and stayed aggressive and tried to dominate, I would give myself a good chance to win in straight sets.”
Auger-Aliassime’s next match is Thursday against Filip Krajinovic.
Montreal’s Fernandez, seeded 17th, needed just 71 minutes to knock off Katerina Siniakova 6-3, 6-2.
“I think I just played a really good match, especially on important points in the first set,” Fernandez said. “In the second set, I was happy I was able to keep that offensiveness and keep going for my shots, and I’m glad that the balls went in when it mattered.”
Andreescu dropped a 6-2, 6-4 decision to No. 14 seed Belinda Bencic. The Mississauga native made a late charge by winning three straight games late in the second set before Bencic held serve for the victory.
Bencic will meet Fernandez in a third-round match on Friday.