During the 2024 Madrid Open, it felt like everything was breaking Félix Auger-Aliassime's way. Not such much in 2025. The 2024 Madrid runner-up lost his opening match at the Masters 1000 event on Friday to Juan Manuel Cerundolo in straight sets.
Just a couple of key points made the difference in the second-round clash, but they all seemed to go to the Argentine. Cerundolo was the better of the two at taking his chances in the big moments and was rewarded with a 7-6(5), 6-4 win.
Despite a strong serving performance, putting 75 per cent of his first serves in play and winning over 70 per cent of points on both his first and second serves, errors cost Auger-Aliassime big time as he had 39 unforced, more than double Cerundolo, to just 30 winners. He also failed to convert a break point.
After saving a trio of break points in his opening service game, Auger-Aliassime settled in and had a chance to take control of the opening set when he led love-40 on Cerundolo’s serve at 3-3. Back-to-back errors from the Canadian followed by an ace erased the three break points. The Argentine pulled out an impressive lob to save a fourth in the game before going on to hold.
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Auger-Aliassime saved a set point on his serve at 4-5 before the set eventually went to a tiebreak. Cerundolo got a minibreak for a quick 2-0 lead but the Canadian reeled him back in to 3-3. There, Auger-Aliassime netted a smash to give the minibreak back to the Argentine which proved decisive. The rest of the tiebreak would go the way of the server, with Cerundolo hanging on to take it 7-5.
At 1-1 in the second set on his own serve, Auger-Aliassime committed three straight unforced errors to put himself down love-40. He saved the first break point with some big hitting, but a spectacular on-the-run forehand winner from Cerundolo on the second off a huge swinging forehand volley from the Canadian gave the Argentine the first and ultimately only break of the day.
The Canadian shored up his serve after surrendering the break, not losing another point on his delivery the rest of the way. However, he never managed to reclaim the break. His only chance game as Cerundolo served for the match at 5-4, but the Argentine conjured up another impressive forehand winner to save a break point before going on to serve it out.
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As a result of losing most of his 600 points as the 2024 runner-up in Madrid, Auger-Aliassime is now projected to fall out of the Top 25 in the ATP rankings.
Gabriel Diallo and Denis Shapovalov will both play their second-round matches in Madrid on Saturday. Bianca Andreescu will face off with Elena Rybakina later on Friday.
Feature Photo : Corinne Debreuil/ATP Tour
