Shapovalov, Auger-Aliassime eliminated at Madrid Open
The Canadian Press | Posted: May 4, 2021 2:55 PM | Last Updated: May 4, 2021
U.S. Open champ Dominic Thiem advances to 3rd round after beating Marcos Giron
Canada's Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime are out of the singles draw at the Madrid Open after suffering losses on Tuesday.
The 11th-seeded Shapovalov, from Richmond Hill, Ont., lost 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 to Kakakhstan's Alexander Bublik in a second-round match at the ATP Masters 1000 clay-court event.
The 15th-seeded Auger-Aliassime, from Montreal, lost 6-1, 6-4 to Casper Ruud of Norway in a first-round match.
Auger-Aliassime never had a break-point opportunity against Ruud, ranked 22nd.
WATCH | Auger-Alissime falls to Ruud:
For Shapovalov, it marked the fourth straight tournament in which he failed to win more than one match.
The Canadian struggled with his first serve, putting only 51 per cent in play against Bublik, ranked 44th in the world.
"I started really well. I started on the same level as the other day. So it's not so much ... my game not working. It's more mental." Shapovalov said.
"Like throwing in five doubles in one game, I mean, it's not like I don't know how to serve, you know. It's completely mental and just the mistakes, missing overheads, like the whole court."
WATCH | Shapovalov can't solve Bublik:
Thiem cruises into 3rd round
Looking fresh again after taking a few weeks off, U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem cruised into the third round of the Madrid Open with a comfortable 6-1, 6-3 win over American Marcos Giron on Tuesday.
Thiem was in control from the start at the "Magic Box" centre court in what was his first match since March. The fourth-ranked Austrian was coming off early round losses in Doha and Dubai and felt like he needed a break.
Thiem's next opponent in Madrid will be Australian Alex De Minaur, who advanced after Lloyd Harris had to retire from their match.
Sixth-seeded Andrey Rublev advanced to the third round by beating American Tommy Paul 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4, while Kei Nishikori reached the second round by defeating Karen Khachanov 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-2. Eighth-seeded Matteo Berrettini defeated Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-4 in an all-Italian second-round matchup.
American Taylor Fritz lost 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 in a first-round match against Albert Ramos-Vinolas, who is coming off a title at the Estoril Open.
In the round of 16 of the women's draw, third-seeded Simona Halep, a two-time Madrid champion, was upset by 13th-seeded Elise Mertens, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 in a match lasting more than two and a half hours at the centre court.