Auger-Aliassime finally won by a score of 2-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 and 6-3 against the 122nd racket in the world in 3 h 14 min.
The Quebecer managed to win his ticket to advance in the tournament, he who had lost in the first round of the last two editions of Roland-Garros.
Highlights: Félix Auger-Aliassime c. Juan Pablo Varillas
Photo: Getty Images/Ryan Pierse
It’s a dream and an honor for me to play here; first time on the Philippe-Chatrier court, first victory at Roland-Garros. I’m very happy with the way I finished
said the Montrealer, accompanied by Toni Nadal for a little over a year.
Varillas was playing the first match of his career in the main draw of a major tournament.
Auger-Aliassime took two sets before starting to fight. He then asserted his 9th place in the world rankings by dispatching the third and fourth innings.
The Peruvian, however, had not said his last word and did not give the Maple Leaf representative a chance in the final round. He eventually called a medical timeout before serving at 2-3 in the fifth inning. The Peruvian hung on, but Auger-Aliassime broke his serve with a splendid forehand winner to serve for the game at 5-3.
In the beginning, he was playing very fast, very aggressive, flat. I tried to give myself some space and some time to see the game better; I served better, too, he explained. Nor was it above four o’clock [de match]I tested myself well mentally and physically.
Auger-Aliassime did not waste this opportunity and he reached the second round for the first time at Roland-Garros.
He will face in the next round the Argentinian Camilo Ugo Carabelli, 154th in the world.
Alcaraz and Zverev carefree
The young Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, at the gates of the top 5 at 19 and already a title contender, made a solid entry into Paris on Sunday.
He left Argentinian Juan Ignacio Londero, 141st in the world, just six games and won in three sets of 6-4, 6-2 and 6-0 in the first round.
Carlos Alcaraz has started his fortnight in Paris well.
Photo: Getty Images/Ryan Pierse
Necessarily expected, Alcaraz won on center court in 1 hour 50 minutes by winning the last ten games of the game.
Alcaraz did not have to face any break points and posted 100% success on their chances in the first two sets (6 out of 12 in total).
He fights well, and he had games behind him, Alcaraz said. It was good I think for the next game. It helps me find my rhythm and adapt to the court.
” This tournament is one of the first I saw when I was little, it’s a pleasure to play here »
In the second round, Alcaraz, who appears to have recovered from his twisted ankle pain in Madrid, will face Albert Ramos (42nd in the world) in an all-Spanish duel.
For his part, Alexander Zverev, No. 3 in the world and semi-finalist a year ago, had a quiet entry. He brushed aside Austria’s Sebastian Ofner, 218th in the world 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 in less than two hours on Sunday.
Zverev, a runner-up in Madrid and a semi-finalist in Rome in recent weeks, faced no break points and hit thirteen aces against four double faults, and more than thirty shot winners against around 20 unforced errors against his opponent from qualifying.
I’m often used to starting in five rounds in a grand slam, my coach Sergi (Bruguera) told me not to, I listened to him
said the 25-year-old German with a smile.
In the second round, Zverev will face the winner of the match between Serbian Dusan Lajovic and Argentinian Sebastian Baez.
Thiem feels lost
Not so long ago, everything seemed easy for Dominic Thiem on a tennis court.
His powerful forehand, his elegant backhand, his skill in the important moments: everything was on point, and it allowed him to win the United States Open and participate in three other grand slam finals, including two at Paris during the French Open.
But that blessed time has passed. His strikes are less frank and his precision is no longer on point. Sunday, he lost in the first round and suffered a 10th loss in a row.
His considerable number of unforced errors (42) in the match fueled the sighs of the Parisian public.
The 28-year-old former world No. 3, now ranked 194th, lost 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to Bolivian Hugo Dellien.
Should he go to Challenger circuit tournaments to regain his confidence?
After complaining about the quality of his forehands, backhands and low success rate on his first serves, Thiem raised the main issue.
Sometimes I make stupid decisions during a rally, he explained bluntly. I go there for a bunt or a shot down the line, when it’s not the right time to do that, Thiem said. I don’t play well in match situations.
Today, during a game, I made four or five mistakes in a row on forehand returns, he said. When I see this, I wonder what’s going on.
French Open first round results:
- Aljaz Bedene (SLO) beats Christopher O’Connell (AUS) 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1
- Pablo Cuevas (URU) defeated Jenson Brooksby (USA/no 31) 6-2, 6-1, 6-2
- Grigor Dimitrov (BUL/no 18) defeated Marcos Giron (USA) 6-1, 6-1, 6-1
- Borna Coric (CRO) beats Carlos Taberner (ESP) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-1
- Jaume Munar (ESP) defeats Daniel Altmaier (GER) 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
- Diego Schwartzman (ARG/#15) defeated Andrey Kuznetsov (RUS) 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2
- Botic van de Zandschulp (NED/no 26) defeated Pavel Kotov (RUS) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
- Fabio Fognini (ITA) beats Alexei Popyrin (AUS) 6-4, 7-5, 6-4
- Tallon Griekspoor (NED) defeated Alejandro Davidovich (ESP/no 25) 2-6, 6-0, 6-4, 6-3
- John Isner (USA/#23) beats Quentin Halys (FRA) 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (8/6)
- Grégoire Barrère (FRA) beats Taro Daniel (JPN) 3-6, 6-2, 0-6, 6-3, 6-4
- Karen Khachanov (RUS/no 21) defeated Nuno Borges (POR) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
- Albert Ramos (ESP) defeats Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5)
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca