Felix Auger-Aliassime, who had to skip the National Bank Open in Montreal due to a back injury, is showing signs of recovery. The 26-year-old tennis player from Montreal advanced to the Round of 16 at the Cincinnati Open by defeating Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina with a score of 7-5, 6-1 on Tuesday night.
Auger-Aliassime, who swiftly secured victory against Cerundolo in just one hour and 27 minutes, is set to face Frances Tiafoe in the next round. Tiafoe emerged victorious in a tough match against Learner Tien, with a score of 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 that lasted two hours and 10 minutes.
In his previous match, Auger-Aliassime triumphed over Stefanos Tsitsipas with a score of 6-3, 7-5. During the match against Cerundolo, Auger-Aliassime showcased six aces, five double faults, 22 unforced errors, and 19 winners. He managed to win three out of nine return games and all nine of his service games.
Auger-Aliassime had to withdraw from the NBO in Montreal due to a back injury sustained during training before the event where he was the No. 2 seed. Other notable players like Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic also had to make similar decisions to prioritize their health and recovery.