For the first time in the Open Era, two Canadian men are into the third round of the French Open as Félix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov both advanced at Roland-Garros with gritty wins on another rainy day in Paris. Both were scheduled to play on Wednesday but were washed out. When they came back on Thursday, Auger-Aliassime was able to find a way past qualifier Henri Squire while Shapovalov caused an upset by taking out No. 25 seed Frances Tiafoe, both in four sets. It is the first time that both Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov reached the third round at the same major since the 2023 Australian Open. Auger-Aliassime did not have things all his own way in his second-round clash with Squire, but the Canadian was able to find his way into the third round with a four-set win.
Like his first-round match, Auger-Aliassime found himself bouncing back-and-forth between the court and the locker room as rain continues to wreak havoc in Paris. But when he was on court, he managed to stay composed despite an inspired effort from the German, reaching the third round with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win. It was another solid performance from the Canadian, who won 81 per cent of his first serve points and fired 37 winners to 35 unforced errors. He benefited from 42 unforced errors off of Squire’s racket. His return game was also strong, breaking serve seven times and winning 67 per cent of the German’s second serve points.
Auger-Aliassime’s opening round win was a serving clinic, but he got off to an erratic start in round two. Having not faced a single break point against Nishioka, he double-faulted to give Squire two looks in just his second service game of the match. However, he saved the first with an ace and was able to get out of the jam.
After breaking for a 4-2 lead, the Canadian again found himself under pressure on serve. This time, it was full credit to Squire who ripped three straight winners to immediately get the break back.
Serving to stay in the set at 4-5, the German’s nerves got the better of him. From 40-30 up, he hit back-to-back double faults to gift Auger-Aliassime a set point and followed it up with an error to hand the set to the Canadian.
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After Shapovalov held serve for 1-1 in the third, the rain once again sent the players back to the locker room. This time, they had to wait nearly three hours before returning to the court.
When they did, it was a whole new match as suddenly both men were struggling to hold serve. The first three games after the restart went to the returner, two of them to Shapovalov. Even as he served to consolidate his second break, the Canadian had to dig out of a 15-40 hole and saved four break points in the game, three with forehand winners, before holding for a 4-2 lead.
Tiafoe’s served had completely vanished. He dropped his first three games after the rain delay, allowing Shapovalov to take a two sets to one lead, and then had to save a break point in his opening service game in the fourth before finally holding.
The American had his chance to flip the momentum completely when he led 15-40 on Shapovalov’s serve in the fourth game, but the Canadian hit his way out of the jam and then went back to work on return.
Shapovalov had a chance to break at 3-3 but missed his return. Two games later, he had two chances and after Tiafoe saved the first with a big serve, he netted a volley to set the Canadian up to serve out the win.
