Montreal (AFP) – Canadian hopes collapsed on Wednesday at the ATP Montreal Masters as Olympic medalist Felix Auger-Aliassime was knocked out 6-3, 6-2 by Flavio Cobolli. The Montreal-born mixed doubles bronze medal winner with Gabriela Dabrowski went down in 66 minutes to the Italian, who finished runner-up in Sunday’s Washington final. The exit marks the end of local competitors as Vasek Pospisil quit after three games with back pain against Washington champion Sebastian Korda.
Auger-Aliassime never found his rhythm and went down a double break in the second set after 33rd-ranked Cobolli secured the first. The Italian double-faulted on the first of three match points but finished the job on his second chance. “Congrats to Felix for his medal,” the winner said, adding: “I did the perfect match today. I don’t know how I did it. I just tried to make a dream come true.”
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Two-time Canadian semi-finalist Gael Monfils was dismissed 6-3, 6-3 by qualifier Thanasi Kokkinakis. The Australian failed to serve out the match leading a set and 5-1 but advanced two games later as his French opponent returned long. “Gael is a great champion, a legend in the game,” the Australian said. “I stayed focused during the match even if it was a bit dicey at the end. But I kept my nerve. I had to trust my game — it doesn’t get any easier from here.”
Ben Shelton survived a trick-shot ending to defeat devious doubles partner Alexander Bublik 7-6 (7/4), 6-2. The 11th-seeded American, who reached the semi-finals last week in Washington, could only laugh out loud on match point as Bublik raced to reach a drop shot. Knowing he would be unable to get there in time, the colourful Kazakh skilfully tossed his racquet under the dropping ball on the run before it landed, causing a reverse drop shot back over the net into Shelton’s court. The maneuver was, of course, illegal, with Shelton winning the match with a huge smile after 89 minutes with nine aces among his 27 winners. Bublik finished with the same number of unforced errors.
“It was crazy, but a special shot regardless,” the 21-year-old American said. “I asked after the match and the point doesn’t count if the racquet leaves your hand before it touches the ball. But it shows the skills he can do. This was a funny moment on match point that we shared — he’s the only guy who could do something like that.” Shelton said waiting for his chances was key on the day: “It was important that I stayed patient throughout. He’s a guy who gets back a lot of balls.”
Shelton earned his 27th win of the season as he reached the second round on his second appearance in Canada. The American had lost two previous matches with Bublik, both played on clay at Masters 1000s in Rome and last spring in Madrid. Both members of the American bronze medal doubles team advanced. Tommy Paul made a quick turnaround from Paris, posting a 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) win over Luciano Darderi as he made the transition from clay to hardcourt. “It was a solid match, the level went up in the second set and we played longer points,” the winner said. “I felt more normal on court. It’s a tough transition.”
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