Félix Auger-Aliassime’s road came to an abrupt end on Monday in Melbourne, in the first round of the Australian Open against Portuguese Nuno Borges.

The 25-year-old Quebecer forfeited his serve at 15-15 at the start of the fourth set, bothered by leg cramps. The score was then 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 0-0 in favor of his opponent after 2 hours 09 of play.

“I’m fine, but I started having cramps at the start of the third round,” explained Auger-Aliassime. It has become very difficult to be competitive at this level. I tried for one round, but it was impossible. »

“I don’t remember ever having cramps this early in a tournament, this early in a match,” he added.

Auger-Aliassime was dominant in the first set, winning 6-3 with authoritarian strikes, but he began to experience some trouble in the second set, being broken for the first time at 2-2.

PHOTO HOLLIE ADAMS, REUTERS

Felix Auger-Aliassime

The seventh seed finally escaped this second round 6-4 and left the field for many minutes before the start of the third round.

“I sympathize,” Borges said. I know what it’s like to suffer physically, and that’s part of tennis. I hope he recovers quickly and gets back to his best. »

Auger-Aliassime had not retired in a Grand Slam match since the 2018 U.S. Open.

Both players held serve until 4-4 in the third set, but Borges then broke Auger-Aliassime and consolidated his break to win again 6-4.

The Canadian called on a therapist before starting the fourth round, but the latter was not able to allow Auger-Aliassime to finish his match.

In the second round, Borges, 46e world player, will face Australian Jordan Thompson, who defeated Argentinian Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-7 (3), 7-5, 6-1, 6-1.

Then, at the end of the program, Ontarian Denis Shapovalov, 21e seeded, made his debut at Melbourne Park by defeating Chinese Yunchaokete Bu 6-3, 7-6 (3) and 6-1.

Mboko in the next round

In the women’s category, Victoria Mboko continued her momentum from the Adelaide tournament, where she reached the final last week, winning her first round match.


PHOTO MARTIN KEEP, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Victoria Mboko

The 19-year-old Canadian only needed 1 hour 12 minutes to overcome Australian Emerson Jones (153e) in two sets of 6-4, 6-1.

Mboko, 17e seeded, broke his opponent four times in 10 opportunities and offered him no break points. She slammed two aces and 14 winners against two double faults and 20 unforced errors.

In the second round, the Torontonian will face the American Catherine McNally, who defeated the Japanese Himeno Sakatsume 6-3, 6-1 in the first round.

Like Auger-Aliassime, Canadian Marina Stakusic was also forced to retire due to cramps during her first round match, when the score was 1-6, 6-4, 5-3 in favor of Australian Priscilla Hon.


PHOTO JAIMI JOY, REUTERS

Marina Stakusic left the court in a wheelchair after abandoning her first round match.

Stakusic, 127e player in the world, started having trouble in the third set and fell to the ground at 3-3.

A therapist came to help her at 4-3, but Stakusic never really recovered and withdrew after being broken by her opponent, 121e world racket.

The 21-year-old Canadian, who had earned her place in the main draw with three wins in qualifying a few days earlier, left the field in a wheelchair.

“It’s so hard to see, at 21, for the second time she’s qualified for the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament,” Hon said. It’s really difficult. There were some very worrying moments. »