Monday 24 January 2022

2022 AO 4R - Auger-Aliassime d Cilic

Marin Cilic (27) (Croatia) v Felix Auger-Aliassime (9) (Canada) 

Cilic was beaten in the AO final by Federer in 2018.
Auger-Aliassime AO best was round of sixteen last year.

Cilic won all 3 previous meetings, the most recent the final in Stuttgart, June 2021.

Felix served first with a love game, including an ace and a service winner.
Three unforced errors from Cilic gave break points to Felix.
Both saved, the second with an ace. Another ace plus forehand winner clinched the game. 1-1.

Backhand and forehand winners helped Cilic break Felix in the third game.
After holding serve, finished with an ace, Cilic achieved the double break. 
Setting up a break point with a forehand winner, Cilic received a double fault from Felix who now trailed 2-5.

Cilic served it out quickly 6-2.

No breaks of serve for five games in set two, but both taken to deuce in games two and three.
Felix had a break chance in the sixth game, but his forehand was wide, then Cilic forced a backhand error and delivered a service winner.
3–3.

Cilic, serving at 4-5, faced two set points. He saved one when he forced a backhand error. The next was saved when Felix missed with another backhand. 
Cilic gave him another chance when he stuffed up a forehand. An ace fixed that. Cilic held for 5-5.

A tie break was necessary.

The first four points went with serve. The next four points didn’t. The next four points went with serve, and at 6-6, they changed ends.
Serving at 7-7, Cilic lost the point when Felix hit a forehand winner.
Felix won the set when he forced Cilic into error on his backhand. 7-6(7).

Felix broke Cilic in the third game of set three, after Cilic saved five break points.
Cilic was broken once more in the seventh game and Felix served for the set at 5-2.

Two service winners and Felix was within a point of the set.
An ace gave him a 2-6 7-6(7) 6-2 lead.

Game one of set four - Cilic saved two break points with service winners. He finished the game with an ace.

No more break points available in the set, and so a tie break.

Cilic lost the first point which was on his serve.
The next five points went with serve, and Felix led 4-2 at the change of ends.
An ace gave him 5-2.
Cilic won both points on his serve, leaving Felix to serve out the match.

A forehand winner, then an ace gave Felix the match.

Felix Auger-Aliassime won through to the quarter finals 2-6 7-6(7) 6-2 7-6(4).

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