Auger-Aliassime and Raonic Victorious in First-Round Matches at Rotterdam

In tennis action at the National Bank Open in Toronto on Thursday, August 10, 2023, Milos Raonic of Canada tossed the ball to serve to Mackenzie McDonald of the United States. Raonic's powerful serve was on display as the Canadian veteran defeated Jesper De Jong of the Netherlands 7-6 (5), 6-4 in first-round play at the ABN Amro Open tennis tournament. This report was provided by The Canadian Press.

 

In Rotterdam, Netherlands, Canadians Felix Auger-Aliassime and Milos Raonic secured victories in their first-round singles matches at the ABN Amro Open tennis tournament on Monday.

Auger-Aliassime, representing Montreal, faced a tough battle lasting two hours and 21 minutes against hardy American qualifier Maxime Cressy. He narrowly edged out Cressy with a score of 7-6 (3), 7-6 (8), advancing to face the winner of a match between second-seeded Andrey Rublev of Russia and qualifier Zizou Bergs of Belgium.

Despite Auger-Aliassime's significant advantage in aces (18-7), he had more double faults (4-3). His opponent, Cressy, committed 14 unforced errors, while Auger-Aliassime finished with 12. Auger-Aliassime won 75 percent of first-serve points and recorded more winners (39-33), being the only player to win a game while returning.

On the other hand, Raonic showcased his powerful serve in full force as the veteran defeated Jesper De Jong of the Netherlands with a score of 7-6 (5), 6-4. Hailing from Thornhill, Ontario, Raonic fired an impressive 20 aces and won 97 percent of first-serve points in his first win of the season.

Raonic secured victory with the only break of the match, taking a 5-4 lead in the second set. He then delivered back-to-back aces to set up match point before sealing the win in one hour and 42 minutes.

Next, Raonic will face the winner of a match between eighth-seeded Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan and Croatian veteran Borna Coric.

In other news, Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ontario, is scheduled to play against Gael Monfils of France in a first-round match on Tuesday morning.

BASELINES: Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ontario, will play Gael Monfils of France Tuesday morning in a first-round match.

This report was provided by The Canadian Press.