Felix Auger-Aliassime will have to settle for a couple of chances at playing for bronze at the Olympics.
The Canadian lost 6-1, 6-1 to No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in a one-sided men’s singles semifinal on Friday at Roland-Garros.
Auger-Aliassime, seeded 13th, will play the loser of the other semifinal between top seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia and No. 11 seed Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the bronze-medal match.
Before that match this weekend, Auger-Aliassime gets another shot at a medal with Gabriela Dabrowski in the mixed doubles bronze-medal contest later Friday.
The Canadians face Demi Schuurs and Wesley Koolhof of the Netherlands.
Alcaraz, the 2024 French Open and Wimbledon champ, took control of the semifinal early with beautiful shot-making.
Alcaraz broke Auger-Aliassime to go up 2-1 and then did it again twice more in the first set. In four previous Olympic matches, Auger-Aliassime lost just one service game.
Auger-Aliassime didn’t have a single break-point opportunity against Alcaraz.
Despite the loss, the Olympic singles run was a major positive for Auger-Aliassime, who has had an up-and-down year. He notched upset wins over Daniil Medvedev and Casper Ruud to reach the semis.
The 23-year-old Auger-Aliassime was eliminated in the first round at Wimbledon after reaching the round of 16 at the French Open.
Auger-Aliassime is scheduled to play in the National Bank Open next week in his hometown of Montreal.
Canadian tennis player Felix Auger-Aliassime’s quest for an Olympic gold medal came to an end on Friday as he was defeated by Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s singles semifinals at the Tokyo Games. Despite the loss, Auger-Aliassime still has a chance to bring home a medal for Canada as he will now compete for the bronze.
The match between Auger-Aliassime and Alcaraz was a highly anticipated one, with both players showcasing their skills and determination on the court. However, it was Alcaraz who ultimately emerged victorious, defeating Auger-Aliassime in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-3.
Despite the disappointment of missing out on a spot in the gold medal match, Auger-Aliassime has shown resilience and determination throughout the tournament. The 20-year-old Canadian has been in impressive form, defeating top players such as Karen Khachanov and Max Purcell on his way to the semifinals.
Now, Auger-Aliassime will turn his focus to the bronze medal match, where he will have another opportunity to showcase his talent and compete for a spot on the podium. The Canadian will face off against the loser of the other semifinal match between Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev.
Auger-Aliassime’s performance at the Tokyo Olympics has been commendable, and he has proven himself to be a rising star in the world of tennis. With his determination and skill, there is no doubt that he will give his all in the bronze medal match and fight for a place on the podium for Canada.
Overall, while Felix Auger-Aliassime may have fallen short in the semifinals, his journey at the Tokyo Olympics has been a memorable one. As he prepares to compete for the bronze medal, Canadian tennis fans will be eagerly watching and cheering him on as he aims to make his mark on the Olympic stage.