GRANBY, July 24, 2015
Only 14-year-old Félix Auger-Aliassime has become the youngest player of all time, gaining a main draw match victory on the ATP Challenger Tour.
The Canadian, who lives in Montreal, has reached the quarterfinals at the US-$ 100,000 event in Granby, located close to his home town. Auger-Aliassime battled through the qualifying and defeated Andrew Whittington from Australia, currently ranked on 493rd position, in the opening round of the main draw, winning 6-3, 6-2.
On Thursday, the teenager eventually prevailed to the quarterfinals through a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Darian King from Barbados, the tournament’s eighth seed and world number 205. Three times, Auger-Aliassime was a break up in the first set but lost his services in the following. He finally took the opening frame with his fourth break, rallied back from 0-2 down in the second set to seal victory in one hour and 33 minutes.
“I am happy with the way I played tonight,” he stated. “I followed the game plan that I established with my coaches. I had trouble getting going again after the rain delay, I was putting too much pressure on myself, but I was able to fight back.”
Earlier this season, Auger-Aliassime had already qualified for the main draw of an ATP Challenger in Drummundville, when he beat Fritz Wolmarans from South Africa in the final round. The Canadian youngster, however, was forced to withdraw from his first round match due to injury.
Consequently, Auger-Aliassime’s head to head record on the pro circuit has been extended to 7-0, including the qualifying matches. He already secured 23 ATP ranking points, which will get him a spot in the top 750 on Monday. He even has the chance to continue his dream run, now facing 19-year-old Yoshihito Nishioka, the world number 145 on Friday evening in Granby.
