By The Canadian Press on February 28, 2023.
DUBAI CITY, United Arab Emirates – Montreal’s Félix Auger-Aliassime outlasted hard-serving American Maxime Cressy to win a 7-6, 3-6, 6-3 opening match at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Tuesday. Cressy, a classic serve and volley player, fired 27 aces and committed 25 double faults in a match that lasted just over three hours. Auger-Aliassime proved more surgical with his serve, landing 13 aces to just one double fault. Cressy survived 13 of 14 break points, while Auger-Aliassime saved two of the three break points he faced. The fourth-seeded Canadian next plays Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in the tournament’s Round of 16. Sonego topped Switzerland’s Marc-Andrea Huesler 7-5. 6-4 on Monday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 28, 2023. 8