Auger-Aliassime beats Shapovalov in all-Canadian 3rd-round at Aussie Open
Milos Raonic advances to 4th round with win over Hungary's Fucsovics
Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Denis Shapovalov 7-5, 7-5, 6-3 in an all-Canadian clash in the third round of the Australian Open on Friday.
It was just the fifth Grand Slam meeting between two Canadian men in the Open Era, and the first to come in the third round or later.
"I was flawless and I played an amazing match," said Auger-Aliassime. "Of course, it's a shame we have to play each other.
"Hopefully in the future we'll meet later in the tournament but I can just be happy about my performance tonight."
WATCH | Auger-Aliassime knocks of fellow Canadian Shapovalov at Aussie Open:
The 20th-seeded Auger-Aliassime, a Montrealer, is now 2-2 lifetime at the top level against the 11th-seeded Shapovalov, from Richmond Hill, Ont.
The 20-year-old Auger-Aliassime has tied a career best by reaching the round of 16 at a Grand Slam. He also advanced to the fourth round at last year's U.S. Open.
Longtime friends, Auger-Aliassime first met Shapovalov more than a decade ago at a national tennis camp in Toronto when both were under 10 years old. Auger-Aliassime is one year younger than Shapovalov.
"It's never easy to play Denis," said Auger-Aliassime on the court after the match. "We played for the first time when we were nine and 10 so we go back a long time.
"He's beaten me pretty bad a couple of times and tonight went my way."
Shapovalov stayed at Auger-Aliassime's house for part of his improbable run to the semifinals at the Rogers Cup in 2017.
Auger-Aliassime will face Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev in the round of 16.
Raonic advances
Canadian veteran Milos Raonic advanced to the fourth round at Melbourne Park for the eighth time by beating Marton Fucsovics of Hungary 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.
The 14th-seeded Raonic's best performance at the Australian Open was reaching the semifinals in 2016.
Raonic will face Novak Djokovic in the next round.
Djokovic has beaten Raonic in all 11 matches they've played against each other.
WATCH | Milos Raonic reaches 4th round:
Djokovic survives major scare
Top seed Novak Djokovic survived a major injury scare as he battled past American Taylor Fritz 7-6 (1) 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-2 to reach the fourth round.
Defending champion Djokovic, seeking a ninth title in Melbourne, looked in command when he took the opening two sets but began to suffer with a side injury early in the third set.
He needed to leave Rod Laver Arena to have treatment and was grimacing in pain at times as the 23-year-old Fritz took advantage to take the next two sets.
He was proud to survive but unsure whether he could continue his bid for a record-extending ninth title at Melbourne Park.
The crowd were removed midway through the fourth set as Melbourne's new COVID-19 lockdown came into effect.
Osaka overcomes errors, still cruises
Naomi Osaka is back in the fourth round for the first time since her title run in 2019.
Osaka overcame 28 unforced errors and saved six of seven break points she faced in a 6-3, 6-2 win over 27th-seeded Ons Jabeur of Tunisia on Friday.
"I was really nervous and scared because I didn't know if she was going to hit a drop shot on any ball," Osaka said of playing Jabeur for the first time.
Osaka was stunned last year in the third round at Melbourne Park by then-15-year-old Coco Gauff. She has looked solid so far this year, dropping just 13 games in her first three matches.
Osaka and Serena Williams are the only two former Australian Open champions remaining in the draw after the losses by Sofia Kenin, Victoria Azarenka and Angelique Kerber.
She next faces another in-form player, two-time major winner Garbine Muguruza, who has lost even fewer games (10) en route to the fourth round.
Thiem rallies to beat Kyrgios
Dominic Thiem produced a comeback for the ages to overhaul a fired-up Nick Kyrgios in a five-set classic at the Australian Open on Friday to send a baying crowd home in disappointment on the last night before a five-day lockdown in Melbourne.
In the bear-pit atmosphere of Kyrgios's favorite John Cain Arena, U.S. Open champion Thiem dragged himself off the canvas to secure a thrilling 4-6 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4 win over the Australian showman to reach the fourth round.
"That first match against Nick here on his favorite court with an amazing crowd, there are easier things to do," said the Austrian third seed, who sealed the victory with a majestic backhand winner down the line.
"Surely that's one of the toughest challenges in our sport.
"Tonight was epic and a good last match before the lock-down, it's really sad to say."
A cluster of COVID-19 cases in Melbourne means there will be no more crowds at the Australian Open for at least five days but the home crowd got their money's worth, if not the desired winner.
Thiem was shell-shocked for the first two sets, barely able to lay a glove on Kyrgios who channeled the crowd's energy to produce some electrifying tennis.
Halep has easier round
Second-seeded Simona Halep cleaned up her game in the third round and spent far less time on court than her previous match.
Halep advanced to the fourth round by beating 32nd-seeded Veronika Kudermetova 6-1, 6-3 in 1 hour, 18 minutes.
The victory came one round after she struggled to find her rhythm in a more than 2 1/2-hour match against Ajla Tomljanovic.
The difference between the two matches was unforced errors. Halep hit 37 against Tomljanovic and only 12 against Kudermetova.
With files from Canadian Press and Reuters
