Auger-Aliassime capitalises on Murray fatigue with straight-set rout

Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Andy Murray fails to live up to the hype, as the young Canadian cruises in straight sets at the US Open on Thursday night.

Andy Murray and Felix Auger Aliassime, US Open second round, September 2020

Ricky Dimon

September 4, 2020

US Open second round, men’s singles
Auger-Aliassime d. Murray 6-2, 6-3, 6-4
Key stats: Murray did not earn a single break point in the entire match
Why you should read this story: Auger-Aliassime had some amazing stats beyond just no break points faced

On paper, it was a great match-up. That is why it got the night-session treatment in Arthur Ashe Stadium. But Thursday’s match never came close to living up to the hype.

Felix Auger-Aliassime has Yoshihito Nishioka to thank for that. Murray was coming off a five-setter against Nishioka in which he came back from two sets down and saved a match point before prevailing in four hours and 39 minutes. The three-time Grand Slam champion had no specific injury two days later, but he was clearly feeling that first-round match in his legs; there was not the same spring in Murray’s step or power on his serve.

Of course, it was not like Auger-Aliassime was given a free pass. The 15th-seeded Canadian certainly played his own part in Thursday’s outcome. He, too, was coming off a long one on Tuesday (a thrilling four-setter against Thiago Monteiro that lasted three hours and 51 minutes) but still produced a near-perfect display of tennis against Murray. Auger-Aliassime fired 24 aces compared to only two double-faults, won 89 percent of his first-serve points, and hit 52 winners to Murray’s nine.

“In the back of you mind you know you’re facing Andy Murray,” the 21-year-old explained. “Even up two sets, you never know what tricks he has in his pocket. To close it out, it’s not easy when you’re facing a great champion.”

Auger-Aliassime awaits the winner of a rain-delayed match between Dan Evans and Corentin Moutet. Evans and Moutet were playing on an outer court with no roof when the New York skies opened up around 7:00 p.m. and play was cancelled for the day on all courts other than Ashe and Louis Armstrong.