Auger-Aliassime Happy With Positive Miami Open Start

Felix Auger-Alissime
Felix Auger-Aliassime (photo: Miami Open/Hard Rock Stadium)

MIAMI/WASHINGTON, March 22, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)

Felix Auger-Aliassime has fond memories of his 2019 semifinal run at the Miami Open – his first at an ATP Masters 1000 level – five years ago. As a 58th-ranked qualifier, he strung together five consecutive wins over Casper Ruud, Marton Fucsovics, Hubert Hurkacz, Nikoloz Basilashvili and Borna Coric in the main draw, before losing to John Isner in the semifinal round.

Auger-Aliassime even met his longtime girlfriend, Nina Ghabi, at the Miami Open that year.

For sure, Auger-Aliassime has always looked forward to returning to Miami. On Thursday afternoon, the 23-year-old Canadian, a former Top-10 star whose ranking has fallen to No. 36 after a slow beginning to the 2024 season, got off to a good start – and didn’t let a half-hour rain delay dampen his enthusiasm. Playing first on the Hard Rock Stadium Court, Auger-Aliassime defeated 134th-ranked Australian qualifier Adam Walton, 7-5, 6-4, in two hours, after saving three set points in the opening set trailing 4-5. He closed out the victory with an ace and a forehand winner.

The Canadian No. 1 struck 11 aces, won 81 percent of his first serves and hit 33 winners. He saved all five break points he faced and broke Walton twice in four opportunities. Auger-Aliassime outpointed Walton, who was making his ATP Masters 1000 debut, 74-59, to advance to the second round. The loss dropped Walton’s tour-level record to 0-3.

Looking back, Auger-Alaissime won by playing aggressively while exuding confidence.

“I wasn’t doing anything too bad in the first set, I thought he was just playing really well, serving to his targets, [playing] high percentage,” Auger-Aliassime said in his on-court interview. “He was making me work. It was tricky, he was not missing much. But I’m happy with the way I handled it, to come out of a match like this in straight sets to start things off is positive for me. …

“I think it’s a question of timing, a bit of luck as well with the draw. As time goes by, I hope I’ll come back at a good level and my ranking will follow.”

Next, Auger-Aliassime will play No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev, whom he is 2-5 lifetime. The German won their last meeting back in 2022 at Madrid.

Wong loses ATP Masters 1000 debut but makes a believer in Djere

#NextGenATP teenager Coleman Wong of Hong Kong found himself making both his ATP Tour North American as well as his ATP Masters 1000 debut at the Miami Open Thursday.

At a career-high No. 212 in the PIF ATP Rankings, after reaching the final at a Challenger 75 in New Delhi, India last month, the 19-year-old Wong faced No. 35 Laslo Djere of Serbia in the first match of the day on Court 1. Djere’s experience rewarded him with a 7-5, 7-6 (3) win but there will be better days ahead for Wong, whose win-loss record in all competitions this year is 7-7 after going 52-26 in 2023.

The 6-foot-3 Wong, who has been training at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar since September 2021, earned a wild card into Miami qualifying. There, he won back-to-back three setters, over France’s Hugo Gaston and Sumit Nagal of India, to earn a berth in the 96-player Miami Open field. Wong fired 16 aces against Nagal and saved three final-set break points to secure victory.

Playing on the fourth largest court on the Hard Rock Stadium campus against Djere, Wong attacked early and often with his forehand, his strongest weapon. He remained on serve at 5-all before Djere broke him to go ahead 6-5. Then, Djere consolidated the break after finding his rhythm to win the 52-minute opening set.

The second set proved to be a tennis tug-of-war, with both Wong and Djere exchanging service breaks right and left. Finally, Djere prevailed in a second-set tie-break 7-3 to win the first-round match in two hours and 21 minutes. The match included a 22-minute rain delay early in the second set.

Djere, who outpointed Wong 94-81, hit 14 winners to 33 unforced errors and converted four of nine break points. Meanwhile, Wong struck 22 winners but fell victim to 50 unforced errors. He broke Djere three times in 11 tries. The winner will face No. 15 seed Karen Khachanov of Russia in the second round.

“If he continues [to play this way] I think he will have a bright future,” Djere said, praising Wong, in his on-court interview. “I’m just glad to be through to the second round.”

Ofner looks sharp against Nishkori in Miami debut

World No. 40 Sebastian Ofner of Austria made his Miami debut a winning one after defeating 351st-ranked wild card and former Miami Open finalist Kei Nishikori of Japan, 6-3, 6-4, in 79 minutes on the Grandstand Court.

The Japanese star in his comeback, who brought a 107-65 win-loss record at ATP Masters 1000 level into the first-round match and reached the 2016 Miami final, had not appeared in tour-level competition since last summer in Atlanta. Meanwhile, Austrian No. 1 Ofner was appearing in his third ATP Masters 1000 event after Shanghai last year and Indian Wells earlier this month. His win against the 34-year-old Nishikori was his second at 1000 level and he’s now 10-0 against players ranked outside the Top 50. Nishikori is now 22-11 lifetime at the Miami Open.

Ofner finished with nine aces, hit 31 winners and made 17 unforced errors. He converted two of four break points and saved all three he faced from Nishikori. Meanwhile, Nishikori hit 14 winners while committing 17 unforced errors. He struggled with his serve, winning just 59 percent of his first-serve points.

“It’s never easy to play against a guy like him,” Ofner said of Nishikori, in his on-court interview. “He was a top player for years. For me it was a good match since I’ve been struggling a bit and I just tried to not give him too much rhythm. … I’m really happy with my performance.”

Next, Ofner will play No. 20 seed Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina.

Murray and Korda being entertainment to doubles fans

Among the more intriguing doubles duos in the Miami Open draw are Andy Murray of Great Britain and Sebastian Korda of the United States. Thursday afternoon on Court 5, the British/American pair put on an entertaining show for fans who were able to find a seat.

They defeated Julian Cash of Great Britain and Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands, 7-5, 6-4, in an hour and 20 minutes. The winners combined for five aces, saved both break points they faced and converted two of six break-point opportunities. They outpointed their opponents 64-56.

Around the Miami Open

Other winners advancing to the second round include: No. 39 Roman Safiullin of Russia, No. 43 Daniel Evans of Great Britain, No. 44 Alejandro Tabilo of Chile, No. 45 Alexei Popyrin of Australia, No. 47 Gaël Monfils of France, and No. 54 Daniel Altmaier of Germany.

Also, No. 56 Yannick Hanfmann of Germany, No. 57 Fabian Marozsan of Hungary, No. 58 Alexander Shevchenko of Kazakhstan, No. 64 Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain, 110th-ranked qualifier Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain, 360th-ranked wild card Martin Landaluce of Spain, and No. 863 Soonwoo Kwon of South Korea.

Thursday’s Miami Open results

Friday’s Miami Open order of play

By the numbers

Kei Nishikori of Japan, who owns a 107-66 record at the ATP Masters 1000 level, was playing in his first ATP Tour event since last summer in Atlanta and first at this level since 2021 at the ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells, when it was held in October.

“Quotable …”

“It’s always crazy whenever you get to meet a legend in whatever field they are in. So, it was cool to meet him and realize how down to earth he is. He gave me a few good pointers, advice just on life and being out here as a professional. Creation of ideas, that type of thing.

“He is just an awesome guy to meet. Really cool that he took the time to come out.”

— Ben Shelton on meeting rock-n-roll singer Jon Bon Jovi at the Miami Open, as quoted by the ATP Tour website.

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