Montreal’s own Felix Auger-Aliassime faced a tough defeat at the French Open on Thursday, falling to Spanish player Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets.
The 20-year-old Canadian put up a strong fight against the 18-year-old Alcaraz, but ultimately could not overcome his opponent’s powerful serves and precise shots.
Auger-Aliassime, who was seeded 20th in the tournament, struggled to find his rhythm throughout the match. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to break Alcaraz’s serve and lost the first set 6-2.
In the second set, Auger-Aliassime showed signs of a comeback, but Alcaraz’s consistent play proved to be too much. The Canadian was unable to capitalize on his opportunities and lost the set 6-3.
The third set saw Auger-Aliassime fighting until the very end, but Alcaraz’s strong performance continued, leading to a 6-1 victory and securing his spot in the third round of the French Open.
Despite the loss, Auger-Aliassime remains a rising star in the tennis world. He has had a successful season so far, reaching the finals of the ATP 500 event in Barcelona and the semi-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami.
Alcaraz, on the other hand, is quickly making a name for himself in the tennis world. He is currently ranked 97th in the world and has already defeated top players such as Stefanos Tsitsipas and David Goffin.
The French Open continues to be a challenging tournament for Canadian players, with both Denis Shapovalov and Bianca Andreescu also facing early exits.
As for Auger-Aliassime, he will now shift his focus to the grass court season, with hopes of making a strong comeback at Wimbledon next month.
Despite the disappointment, Montrealers continue to show their support for their hometown player, who has proven to be a force to be reckoned with in the world of tennis.
