Italian Open 2019: Felix Auger-Aliassime cannot sustain lead, falls in three sets in opening-round match

Drew Nantais

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Italian Open 2019: Felix Auger-Aliassime cannot sustain lead, falls in three sets in opening-round match image

After starting out the 2019 season strong, Felix Auger-Aliassime's has now lost back-to-back matches after falling in three sets in the opening round 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4 to Croatia's Borna Coric at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome on Monday. 

The Montreal native trailed 4-2 in the first set before charging back and winning in a tiebreaker. Unfortunately, the 18-year-old couldn't keep that momentum going and would drop the next three games to the 13th-seeded Coric to start the second set.

As was in his loss to world No. 2 Rafael Nadal in last week's Madrid Open in the round of 32, Auger-Aliassime's serve faltered again. He won only 68 percent of his first-serve points and faced 10 break points.

Heading into the match, Auger-Aliassime was ranked 30th in the world in the ATP Rankings, his highest rankings since turning pro in 2017.

 

Drew Nantais