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Felix Auger-Aliassime did not look like the top-6 player in the Miami Open third round! The Canadian experienced a 6-2, 7-5 loss to Francisco Cerundolo in an hour and 43 minutes to break his streak of consecutive Masters 1000 quarter-finals.
Felix served at 54% and won eight out of 28 points behind the second serve. The better-ranked player hit only six winners and 27 unforced errors, while Cerundolo added 16 winners and 25 mistakes. The Argentine played better behind the second serve and got broken once from two chances offered to the Canadian.
Cerundolo had a massive advantage from the baseline and outplayed Auger-Aliassime in the shortest and most advanced exchanges to emerge at the top in straight sets. Felix sprayed a backhand error in the encounter's first game and faced two break points.
The Canadian played a forehand long on the second to get broken and experience an early setback. Cerundolo held at 15 in game two to settle into a fine rhythm and confirm the advantage.
Felix Auger-Aliassime fell to Francisco Cerundolo in the Miami Open third round.
Auger-Aliassime got his name on the scoreboard in the third game before his opponent grabbed the next one with a service winner for 3-1.
Felix sprayed a backhand error in the fifth game and offered his rival another break chance. Francisco placed a deep return and forced Felix's mistake to deliver his second break and forge a 4-1 advantage in 24 minutes. The Argentine grabbed the sixth game at 15 following another loose stroke from his top-10 rival, leaving the Canadian to serve to stay in the set at 1-5.
Auger-Aliassime closed the seventh game with a service winner to prolong the action before Cerundolo wrapped up the set with a service winner at 5-2. With nothing working his way, Felix experienced a break point at the start of the second set before fending it off and avoiding an early setback.
Both players served well in games three and four for 2-2 before Auger-Aliassime hit a double fault and played against two break points in game five. He netted a routine forehand to get broken and fall a set and a break behind.
Cerundolo held at love in game six to move 4-2 in front and closer to the finish line. Felix finally found his rhythm on the return in game eight and broke back at 15 to lock the result at 4-4 and gain a boost. The Canadian held at love in game nine to move in front and turn the tables.
The Argentine claimed four straight points from 30-0 down in the tenth game to extend the set and gain momentum. Auger-Aliassime built a 40-15 advantage in the 11th game, but it was not to be for him. He missed two game points and netted a forehand to experience a break point.
Cerundolo forced Auger-Aliassime's mistake to grab a decisive break and serve for the victory. Francisco faced a break point at 6-5 and saved it with a nice drop shot and a volley winner at the net. The Argentine forced the Canadian's mistake on the match point to seal the deal and emerge at the top.