Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime has advanced to the fourth round at the US Open after a 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3 win over Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain.
After taking the first two sets, Auger-Aliassime struggled to put Bautista Agut away but remained composed to win the fifth and deciding set. The 21-year-old fired 27 aces and 76 winners past Bautista Agut but also had 74 unforced errors that allowed the Spaniard to stay in the match.
“I had to dig really deep,” Auger-Aliassime said after the match. “First of all I felt good today. I started off the best I could, winning the first two sets. It’s unfortunate, being up a break [in the third set], not solidifying, making a few weak mistakes and from there it got tricky. He was getting more and more confidence, I was serving not as good. You guys really pushed me to dig deep in my stomach to get that fifth set—thank you.”
He joins fellow Canadian Leylah Annie Fernandez in the Round of 16 when the 18-year-old earned a stunning victory over reigning US Open champion Naomi Osaka. Denis Shapovalov and Bianca Andreescu will play in their respective third-round matches on Saturday.
Auger-Aliassime will face either No.5 seed Andrey Rublev or Frances Tiafoe in the Round of 16.
