Auger-Aliassime moves on at Estoril Open with victory over Tabener

ESTORIL, Portugal – Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime advanced to the quarterfinals of the Estoril Open tennis tournament with a 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Spain’s Carols Tabener on Thursday.

Auger-Aliassime, the top seed at the ATP 250 clay-court event, struggled in the first set, winning just 38 per cent of first-serve points despite being accurate on his first serve 91 per cent of the time. He saved just one of the four break-point chances he faced.

The match turned around in the second set when Auger-Aliassime won 60 per cent of service points and 58 per cent of return points while breaking Tabener three times on six chances.

Auger-Aliassime saved his best set for last, winning 92 per cent of first-serve points and 84 per cent of service points overall. He did not face break point in the third set, and converted two of the five break-point chances he had against Tabener.

Auger-Aliassime improved his career record to 2-0 over Tabener, with both wins coming this year.

The Montrealer will face Sebastian Korda of the United States on Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2022.