Roger Federer, who competed in Halle for the 18th time, failed to reach the quarterfinals for the first time after a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 loss to Felix Auger-Aliassime in one hour and 44 minutes. It was the first meeting between the players who share birthdays and Federer’s first match against the opponent born in the 2000s.
The Swiss praised the Canadian before the clash, and Felix did his best to confirm those words, playing well in sets two and three to topple the ten-time champion and advance to the last eight a week after playing the Stuttgart final.
Federer retired from Roland Garros after three wins to preserve energy for the grass swing. Still, he doesn’t look good on his favorite surface, battling Ilya Ivashka in the first round and losing ground to Auger-Aliassime after today’s opener.
The youngster fired 13 aces and faced only one break point that cost him the first set. After that, he had a huge lead and sailed through his games as he converted three of the 15 break opportunities to outrun Federer and move into the last eight.
The more experienced player defended all four break opportunities in the first set and used his only chance in the comeback to build the lead. The servers barely lost a point in the first five games before Federer faced two break points at 2-3.
He saved them with booming serves and brought the game home to level the score at 3-3. The Swiss created the only break opportunity with a forehand on the winner’s line in the next game (150 km / h) and converted it with a backhand on the winner’s line for a 4-3 lead.
Serving at 5-4, Roger shot two winners at 15-40 to erase break points and brought the set home with a winning volley. Felix lost just seven points behind the opening shot in set number two, keeping the pressure on the other side and taking advantage of the ninth break opportunity since the start of the clash to take the set and gain momentum.
Federer struggled with serve in games four and six and fell on the fifth break opportunity to find himself 4-2 down. Felix closed the set in style and pushed even harder in the decider when he lost just two points behind the opening shot.
The Canadian took two early breaks to rush to a 4-0 lead, playing well and moving over the top with an ace at 5-2.
–
