Google News Felix Auger-Aliassime drops praise on Carlos Alcaraz ahead of US Open matchup
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 2590
World No. 15 Felix Auger-Aliassime admitted he felt the nerves early on against Frances Tiafoe but he relaxed as the match progressed and managed to escape with a win. Auger-Aliassime, seeded at No. 12, recovered from a set down to beat world No.
50 Frances Tiafoe 4-6 6-2 7-6 (6) 6-4 and progress into his first US Open quarterfinal. “It was a tough start from me, a lot of nerves,” Auger-Aliassime said, per the ATP website. “After I tried to recover I felt like I could have been able to break back in the first set but it is what it is, you’ve got to accept it.
“I played a great second set. That third set was almost a coin toss. I did feel like I had what it took to win that set and I just had to stay strong on my serve in the end. I’m really happy to be through”.
Auger-Aliassime plays Carlos Alcaraz next
Alcaraz, 18, is having a dream US Open debut.
Alcaraz, who stunned third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas in the third round, beat Germany's Peter Gojowczyk in five sets to make his maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal at the US Open. Alcaraz turned 18 this past May but he is already establishing himself as a player capable of playing and winning matches at the highest possible level.
Auger-Aliassime, 20, has more experience at the Grand Slam level than Alcaraz but he insists he won't have an easy job against the Spaniard. “He’s a great player. At some point age is just a number. He already feels like a player who’s established,” Auger-Aliassime said.
“He’s playing some amazing tennis so I think we’ll see a lot of him, a lot of us, a lot of Frances in the future”. Auger-Aliassime, who made his maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal at this past Wimbledon, is now hoping to go a step further and make his maiden Major semifinal.