Madrid Open 2019: Felix Auger-Aliassime falls to Rafael Nadal in impressive fashion

Jackie Spiegel

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Madrid Open 2019: Felix Auger-Aliassime falls to Rafael Nadal in impressive fashion image

One would have thought Felix Auger-Aliassime had a tough test in the opening round of the Mutua Madrid Open on Sunday when he had to play fellow countryman and friend Denis Shapovalov. However, Auger-Aliassime's prize for defeating Shapovalov was a second-round meeting with the second-ranked player in the world, Rafael Nadal.

Despite the Montreal native showing flashes of brilliance in his first-ever meeting with Nadal — a player of whom Auger-Aliassime had a poster on his wall growing up — he fell to the "King of Clay" 6-3, 6-3 on Wednesday.

Auger-Aliassime started off strong, moving the Spaniard around and keeping the match tight. Then, trailing 4-3 in the opening set, the 30th-ranked player in the world was serving up 40-15 and on pace to tie the match. Instead, the 18-year-old rattled off four straight unforced errors on the forehand, including the game point that hit the top of the tape and sailed long. It set up Nadal to serve for the set with an 80 percent first serve, as he won four of the next five points to capture the first set.

From there, Auger-Aliassime struggled to regain the form he showed early in the match. The final game, however, showcased what the Canadian can do — and what he has to learn.

Serving to stay in the match, as he saved five match points, Auger-Aliassime forced Nadal to make unforced errors and send the game to deuce. However, with the ad-in, he double-faulted, then hit an off-balanced forehand long and an inside-out forehand long.

Regardless of the outcome, the match will be one from which Auger-Aliassime can learn as he lost to one of the greatest in the game. He came out aggressive and was going toe-to-toe with Nadal in the beginning.

Unfortunately, 30 unforced errors — 16 off the forehand — with only nine winners were his downfall. 

Jackie Spiegel