It was an early exit for Félix Auger-Aliassime on Friday on the Shanghai Rolex Masters, because the Canadian fell 6-3, 6-2 to France’s Alexandre Muller.
The world No. 74 struck 9 winners and broke serve on three of eight alternatives to coast to the straight units victory in simply 78 minutes over the Canadian No. 1.
It was an off day for the 18th seed from Montreal, as Auger-Aliassime struggled along with his rhythm and timing on the outside courts in Shanghai. After exchanging holds of serve by way of the primary seven video games, Muller capitalized on two errors from the Canadian to interrupt serve for a 5-3 lead.
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The Frenchman fought off a late stand from Auger-Aliassime, saving a break level probability earlier than closing out the primary set 6-3 in 38 minutes.
The second set would show extra lopsided, as Muller broke the Canadian within the first and third video games to take a commanding 4-0 lead.
Auger-Aliassime saved a pair of match factors on his personal serve to carry late however trailing 5-2, he had no path again within the one-sided affair. Muller closed out the match on serve to wrap up the decisive victory.
With the loss, the world No. 22, who gained bronze on the Paris Olympics earlier this yr, drops to 30-23 total on the season.
Shapovalov unable to decelerate Shelton
Additionally on Friday, Ben Shelton as soon as once more bought the higher of Denis Shapovalov, overwhelming the Canadian 6-3, 7-5 to guide a spot within the third spherical of Shanghai.
The 21-year-old American was close to flawless on serve, firing 11 aces and going through zero break factors within the 77-minute victory.
It marks the third time Shelton has defeated his fellow left hander this yr. He additionally notched wins over Shapovalov at Wimbledon and the Citi Open in Washington.
After buying and selling service holds by way of the primary 5 video games, a couple of cracks crept into the Canadian’s recreation. He misfired on a pair of forehands to offer Shelton the break of serve and a 4-2 lead.
The world No. 16 closed out the set in blistering trend, firing 4 consecutive aces to take the opener 6-3 in simply half-hour.
Within the second set, as Shapovalov raised his aggression and shot making to remain on even phrases with the highly effective American.
The Canadian noticed off two break level possibilities to carry for a 5-4 lead however couldn’t resist Shelton in his subsequent service recreation.
A missed backhand volley granted the sixteenth seed a 6-5 edge, and the 21-year-old completed the match on his serve, closing it out with a forehand volley to wrap up the 6-3, 7-5 victory.
The American improves his head-to-head to an ideal 3-0 towards his fellow left hander. Regardless of the loss, Shapovalov is projected to return contained in the High 100 of the ATP rankings on Monday.
