18 yo dumps Tsitsipas at Queens Club

Quarter final day at Queens Club.

Fever-Tree Championships - an ATP 500 category tournament, on Grass, in London, Great Britain, 17-23 June 2019.

Defending champion:

Marin Cilic (1) who defeated wildcard Novak Djokovic 5-7 7-6(4) 6-3

Quarter final results 

- Stefanos Tsitsipas (1) v Felix Auger-Aliassime (8)

The future of men’s tennis was on display in this match. Tsitsipas, at just 20, is already a top ten player, and seemingly intent on remaining there for some time, with the top spot a realistic aspiration. His 18 year old Canadian opponent today has huge potential and enough of it has already been shown to make believers of most tennis followers.

The pair had met once before, Felix successful earlier in 2019 at Indian Wells.

The Canadian served first and survived two deuces before holding for 1-0. Tsitsipas levelled in easy fashion and then pushed hard, creating two break chances. Auger-Aliassime struggled through, and no more break points arrived until the twelfth game. In fact the last time deuce had been reached was in game four.

Serving at 5-6 to stay in the set, Tsitsipas hit a loose forehand to be behind 0-15. Auger-Aliassime netted a forehand in response. A backhand overhead volley from the Canadian showed great athleticism, and an awful Greek forehand pushed wide presented Auger-Aliassime with two set points. A netted backhand from the teenager saw one disappear, but a brutal forehand had Tsitsipas sprawled on the grass, and one set down.

Break chances arose in the opening games of set two. Auger-Aliassime saved the one he faced with a shanked backhand pass lucky to land in. Tsitsipas saved the first of three he faced at 0-40, with a spectacular forehand down the line winner. He couldn’t save the second though, when a forehand hit the net. 2-0 to the teenager.

At 0-3, and a change of ends, Tsitsipas received treatment on his shoulder.

Serving at 3-1, and attempting to retain the break advantage, Auger-Aliassime saved break point on four separate occasions. The first via a Tsitsipas wide forehand, the second by a brilliant backhand volley, the third with a forehand winner, and the fourth through a big serve. 

At 2-5, and needing to hold to stay in the tournament, Tsitsipas began with an ace. A wonderful backhand return made it 15-15, and a wide backhand off the Greek racquet 15-30. A sensational backhand down the line from Auger-Aliassime gave him two match points. A backhand return passed Tsitsipas who slipped at the worst possible time. The prodigiously talented Felix Auger-Aliassime won 7-5 6-2.

- Wildcard Feliciano Lopez defeated Milos Raonic (6) 4-6 6-4 7-6(5)

- Daniil Medvedev (4) defeated Diego Schwartzman 6-2 6-2

- Gilles Simon defeated qualifier Nicolas Mahut 7-6(5) 5-7 7-6(3)

Semi final match ups

Felix Auger-Aliassime (8) v wildcard Feliciano Lopez

Daniil Medvedev (4) v Gilles Simon