Auger-Aliassime rips past Giron to advance in Paris, RAONIC LOSES IN THREE

Felix Auger-Aliassime got off to a fast start at the 2024 Paris Olympics, dismantling American Marcos Giron 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the second round.

The 23-year-old from Montreal needed just 65 minutes to topple his opponent, firing 10 aces and converting 13 of 14 points at net in the straight sets victory.

Competing in his second career Olympic Games, the Canadian looked poised from the get-go, controlling play with his serve and baseline game.

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He made the first move on the scoreboard in the fourth game of the opening set, pressuring Giron with quality returns and heavy groundstrokes. He’d convert on his second break point opportunity, as the 31-year-old American double faulted.

The 3-1 lead would be more than enough for the Canadian; Auger-Aliassime sprinted through the following three games, winning 12 of the final 14 points to seize the opening set 6-1 in 25 minutes.

Giron opened the second with a service hold, but it did little to halt the talented right-hander’s momentum. After a comfortable hold to love, the Canadian again pressured the world No. 38 and converted his third break point chance of the game to move ahead 2-1.

The advantage kept the the 23-year-old firmly in control, as he continued his service dominance in the second set. He held serve at love three more times, firing his 10^th ace on match point to clinch the win in straight sets.  

Auger-Aliassime won 37 of 40 points on serve and hit 26 winners in the clinical victory, securing his place in the second round of Paris.

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It’s his first career singles win at the Olympics, as he improves to 22-16 on the calendar year.

He’ll face the winner of Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic and Max Marterer of Germany in the second round.

Koepfer outlasts Raonic

Meanwhile, Milos Raonic came up just short in singles, falling to Germany’s Dominik Koepfer in three tiebreaks, 6-7(2), 7-6(5), 7-6(1) in Paris on Sunday.

The world No. 63 was the more consistent of the two players in the final stretches, overcoming the Canadian in 2 hours and 23 minutes to advance to the second round of the Olympics.

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Competing at his first Summer Games since London 2012, Raonic looked calm and poised on the clay courts at Roland-Garros, using his huge serve to keep Koepfer off balance.

In the opening set, Raonic fought off an early break point chance with an ace to hold for an early 2-1 lead.

The pair stayed level until the business end of the set, entering a tiebreak at 6-all. From there, the 33-year-old veteran from Thornhill raised his aggression, racing to a quick 6-0 lead. He would close out the first on his third set point, firing an ace to take the opener 7-6(2) in 48 minutes.

Undeterred, Koepfer began the second set with a hold to love, controlling baseline play by opening up angles with his left-handed groundstrokes. He had his third look at a break point ahead 2-1, though Raonic again hit an ace to escape pressure.

The two again traded holds until a tiebreaker – this time, the German took control, smacking a backhand winner to lead 4-2 at the change of ends. The mini break proved decisive as he closed out the second on serve 7-6(5) in 49 minutes to even the match at one set apiece.

The third set followed the same script, and neither player created a break point chance as they traded 12 consecutive holds of serve to go to a deciding tiebreak.

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Raonic’s consistency let him down in the final stages – an early double fault and two costly forehand errors put Koepfer firmly in control with a 4-1 advantage. The 30-year-old German would win the next three points to close out the match and notch his third career singles win at the Olympics.

Now that he is out of the singles draw, the former Wimbledon finalist will turn his attention to doubles as he teams up with Félix Auger-Aliassime.