Felix Auger-Aliassime isn’t complaining about an unusual return to clay courts this summer.
The Canadian advanced to the second round of the men’s Olympic tournament with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over American Marcos Giron on Sunday in Paris.
The 13th-seeded Auger-Aliassime has had an uneven year this season, but did advance to the round of 16 on the same Roland Garros courts at the French Open.
Auger out-aced Giron 10-0 and had 26 winners to the American’s six.
The Montreal native next faces the winner of a match between Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic and Germany’s Maximilian Marterer.
Canada’s Bianca Andreescu also won her opener on Sunday, downing Denmark’s Clara Tauson 6-2, 6-3.
Andreescu awaits the winner of a match between No. 13 seed Donna Vekic of Croatia and Lucia Bronzetti of Italy.
Canadians Leylah Fernandez and Milos Raonic also have singles openers scheduled for Sunday after rain washed out a majority of the tennis action on Saturday. Fernandez and Gabriela Dabrowski also will play their first-round match in doubles.
With the Olympic tournament on clay, it marks a departure for most players’ routine of transitioning to hard courts following Wimbledon.
In a thrilling start to their Olympic campaigns, Canadian tennis stars Felix Auger-Aliassime and Bianca Andreescu emerged victorious in their respective opening matches at the Tokyo Games.
Auger-Aliassime, ranked 15th in the world, faced off against Max Purcell of Australia in the men’s singles competition. The 20-year-old Canadian displayed his trademark power and finesse on the court, dominating the match with his strong serves and aggressive baseline play. Auger-Aliassime secured a straight-sets victory, winning 6-4, 7-6(2) to advance to the next round.
On the women’s side, Andreescu, the reigning US Open champion and world No. 5, took on Alize Cornet of France in her opening match. Despite facing a tough opponent, Andreescu showed her resilience and fighting spirit, battling through a tight first set before ultimately prevailing in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-4.
Both Auger-Aliassime and Andreescu have been touted as rising stars in the tennis world, with their performances at the Olympics further solidifying their status as top contenders. With their impressive wins in the opening round, they have set the stage for what promises to be an exciting and competitive tournament.
The victories by Auger-Aliassime and Andreescu also mark a strong start for Team Canada in the tennis competition at the Tokyo Games. As they continue their quest for Olympic glory, Canadian fans will be eagerly cheering them on as they look to make their mark on the international stage.
Overall, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Bianca Andreescu’s triumphs in their Olympic openers serve as a testament to their talent, determination, and potential to achieve greatness in the world of tennis. With their eyes set on the podium, they are poised to make Canada proud and inspire a new generation of tennis players.