Auger-Aliassime into Monte-Carlo Masters quarterfinals, next faces Sinner

MONACO — Canadian tennis star Félix Auger-Aliassime advanced to the quarterfinals of the Monte-Carlo Masters on Thursday with a walkover when opponent Casper Ruud retired.

Auger-Aliassime was up 7-5, 2-2 and had just fired his fourth ace of the match to complete a hold when the Norwegian withdrew from the match.

Auger-Aliassime improved his record this year to 17-6 and is the first Canadian to advance to the quarterfinal of every ATP Masters tournament.

The 25-year-old from Montreal, who is seeded sixth at the clay-court event, faces a tough opponent in the next round in second seed Jannik Sinner.

Sinner lost a set but advanced with 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-3 win over Czechia’s Tomas Machac. The Italian had not dropped a set across his previous 18 Masters matches, a run that includes titles in Paris, Indian Wells and Miami.

Sinner has a 4-2 record against Auger-Aliassime, with all four wins coming in high-profile matches last year. He beat the Canadian in the final of the Paris Masters, the semifinals of the U.S. Open, the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Masters and the round robin of the ATP Finals.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 9, 2026.