Swiss Indoors: Promising signs as Auger-Aliassime advances to quarter-finals in Basel

Felix Auger-Aliassime, the No 6 seed, advanced to the quarter-finals of the Swiss Indoors by winning against Dutch qualifier Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 6-2 at the Halle Saint-Jacques in Basel on Thursday evening.

For the second week in a row, Auger-Aliassime has won back-to-back matches in a much-needed rekindling of form for the Canadian. Against van de Zandsculp, the world No 19 looked more like the player who won three consecutive titles this time last year, making 70 percent of first serves and striking 20 winners to just three unforced errors.

Auger-Aliassime, ranked No 19, will play Russian qualifier Alexander Shevchenko next.

The Canadian defeated Swiss wildcard Leandro Riedi (6-3, 6-2) in the previous round of the Basel tournament, while van de Zandschulp, ranked No 65, beat Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut (7-5, 6-7 (3), 6-2).

Basel ATP500, other second-round results (Halle Saint-Jacques, EUR 2.196.000, most recent results first):

• Holger Rune (1) beat Sebastian Baez: 7-6 (2), 6-1
• Dominic Stricker (WC) beat Casper Ruud (2): 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (1)
• Ugo Humbert beat Nicolas Jarry (7): 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4)
• Alexander Shevchenko beat Taylor Fritz (3): 6-7 (7), 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5)
• Tallon Griekspoor beat Alex De Minaur (5): 6-4, 6-3
• Tomas Martin Etcheverry beat Andy Murray: 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2
• Hubert Hurkacz (4) beat Jan-Lennard Struff: 6-1, 6-4