Fernandez Finally Reaches Australian Open Third Round; Auger-Aliassime Slips Up

The third time was the appeal for Leylah Annie Fernandez on the Australian Open as, after falling in spherical two every of the final two years, the Canadian No. 1 lastly superior to the third spherical in Melbourne by defeating Cristina Busca of Spain in three units. 

Fernandez was one among two Canadian ladies victorious on Wednesday, as Gabriela Dabrowski additionally gained her first-round doubles match. Nonetheless, Félix Auger-Aliassime was on the opposite facet of a comeback in opposition to a Spanish opponent, falling in 5 units to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. 

After a rocky begin, Fernandez settled in because the match went alongside. In traditional trend, she fought proper to the tip and broke by way of late, rising with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win. 

The match was largely on the Canadians racket as she had greater than twice as many winners as Busca, 30 to 13, but additionally had 40 unforced errors to her opponent’s 25. Ultimately, Fernandez gained simply three extra factors than her opponent. 

Self-inflicted wounds dug Fernandez into an early gap. Within the opening recreation of the match, she double-faulted twice from 40-15 as much as let Busca again into the sport. After lacking one other likelihood to shut, the Canadian missed a backhand to arrange a break level, the place Busca ripped a forehand winner to take a direct benefit. 

Learn additionally: WTA Energy Rankings – Sabalenka Eyeing Three-Peat at Australian Open

Regardless of making use of strain on the Spaniard’s serve, Fernandez’s incapability to guard her personal supply price her the opening set. She was damaged once more to go down 5-2 and though she broke Busca because the Spaniard served for the set, the Canadian continued to commit expensive errors and was damaged for a 3rd time within the following recreation to drop the opener. 

Fernandez cleaned up her recreation within the second set and was capable of maintain serve largely with out a lot fuss. With out her opponent giving something away, Busca began to crack. At 4-4, she despatched the ball lengthy on three consecutive factors to go down love-40 and a well-angled forehand by the Canadian on the second break level drew an error to place Fernandez inside a recreation of levelling the match. 

Learn additionally: Fernandez Hangs On for Opening Win at Australian Open

Serving out the set was the Lavalloise’s hardest take a look at because the inconsistency that plagued her within the first set returned. A double fault adopted by back-to-back backhand misses put her behind love-40 however, with slightly assist from the online twine, Fernandez managed to save lots of all three break factors. She then wanted three set factors to shut out the set, however a backhand into the online from Busca lastly despatched the match to a decider. 

The Canadian needed to fend off a break level in her opening service recreation, finally drawing an error on the finish of a colossal rally, earlier than turning the tables on Busca. She had a break level within the subsequent recreation after which three extra at 3-all. The Spaniard was capable of conjure up massive photographs when she wanted them to save lots of all 4. 

At 4-all, a backhand winner from Fernandez gave her a 15-40 opening. An sadly timed drizzle got here simply earlier than Busca stepped as much as serve down double break level, inflicting a quick delay however not one which required the gamers to depart the court docket. On the very first level after restarting, Fernandez drew a backhand error from the Spaniard to interrupt for a 5-4 lead. Serving for the match, she made no mistake, ending it off on her second match level. 

Fernandez can have her fingers full within the third spherical when she takes on the in-form third seed Coco Gauff. The American gained their lone earlier assembly only a few weeks in the past on the United Cup in straight units. 

Auger-Aliassime’s Scorching Streak Ends 

Félix Auger-Aliassime got here into his second-round conflict in Melbourne on a six-match profitable streak and appeared primed to make it seven when he led Alejandro Davidovich Fokina two units to like. However the Spaniard proved to have an excessive amount of firepower to include, finally overwhelming the Canadian for a comeback win in 5 units 6-7(7), 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-1, 6-3. 

It’s the second time within the final three majors that Auger-Aliassime has misplaced from two units up and the second time on the Australian Open. 

The primary two units adopted related scripts, with Auger-Aliassime going up a break however in the end being damaged again and needing a tiebreak to get by way of. 

Within the first, the Canadian broke twice however was damaged again immidiately each occasions, finally having to interrupt the Spaniard when he served for the set. Auger-Aliassime managed to journey an early break to a 5-4 lead within the second set and served for it, solely to be damaged. 

Learn additionally: ATP Energy Rankings – Sinner Seems to Keep Dominant at Australian Open

Luckily, he performed higher on the enterprise finish of each breakers to take a two-set lead. 

The third set was the primary of the seven performed between the 2 males at Melbourne Park that didn’t go to a tiebreak, though it was nonetheless determined by a skinny margin. At 3-3, Auger-Aliassime performed a poor recreation, lacking a forehand strategy shot to go down love-40. He proceeded to ship a backhand effectively lengthy to give up what proved to be the one break of the set. 

Learn additionally: Diallo Marks Australian Open Debut with First 5-Set Win

Davidovich Fokina got here out flying within the fourth set. Crushing each ball in sight, the Spaniard raced out to a 4-0 lead. Even as soon as Auger-Aliassime acquired on the board with a maintain within the fifth recreation, he by no means got here near getting a break again. The Canadian was damaged once more within the closing recreation because the match was despatched to a deciding set. 

Auger-Aliassime fought laborious early within the fifth to attempt to reclaim the initiative. He pushed Davidovich Fokina to deuce within the third recreation and had three break factors within the fifth recreation however was unable to get the lead. At 3-4, the Spaniard attacked on return and broke to like to set himself as much as serve out the win. 

Denis Shapovalov and Gabriel Diallo are each nonetheless alive within the males’s singles and play their second-round matches on Thursday in Melbourne, Wednesday night time in Canada. 

Comeback Win for Dabrowski 

Gabriela Dabrowski acquired her marketing campaign in Melbourne underway on Wednesday, mounting an exhilarating comeback with Erin Routliffe to advance previous Danielle Collins and Desirae Krawczyk of the USA in three units. 

The Canadian-Kiwi duo, seeded second on the Australian Open and taking part in their first occasion since profitable the WTA Finals in October, acquired off to a sluggish begin, dropping the opening set. After breaking within the closing recreation of the second set, they appeared on the point of defeat once they trailed 3-0 within the decider. However the former US Open champions turned on the jets late, profitable the final six video games in a row to advance with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win. 

It was Dabrowski’s first win on tour since going public together with her 2024 most cancers prognosis in late December. 

The Ottawan can be the lone Canadian taking part in blended doubles, teaming up with Sander Gille of Belgium. 

Tickets for the Davis Cup Qualifiers 1st Spherical tie between Canada and Hungary at the moment are on sale. Be part of us February 1 and a couple of at IGA Stadium in Montreal, because the Canadian staff begins their quest for the 2025 Davis Cup Remaining 8. To entry tickets at early-bird pricing, click on right here.