‘It’s Not Rocket Science’, Auger-Aliassime Fights Back from the Brink

Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada reacts in his match against Alex Molcan of Slovakia during the 2023 Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 18 January 2023. (EPA)
Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada reacts in his match against Alex Molcan of Slovakia during the 2023 Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 18 January 2023. (EPA)
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‘It’s Not Rocket Science’, Auger-Aliassime Fights Back from the Brink

Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada reacts in his match against Alex Molcan of Slovakia during the 2023 Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 18 January 2023. (EPA)
Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada reacts in his match against Alex Molcan of Slovakia during the 2023 Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 18 January 2023. (EPA)

Felix Auger-Aliassime avoided a humbling exit from the second round of the Australian Open on Wednesday, cutting out the mistakes to secure a thrilling 3-6 3-6 6-3 6-2 6-2 comeback win over Slovakian Alex Molcan.

Backed as a potential champion at Melbourne Park by no less than John McEnroe this week, the Canadian sixth seed looked like slumping out of the year's first Grand Slam after an error-prone first two sets on Margaret Court Arena.

The 22-year-old appeared to get fired up by a complaint to the umpire about the state of the balls early in the third set, however, and suddenly was a different player, serving like a dream and imposing his game on the world number 53.

"It's quite simple, you have to put the ball in the court without missing," Auger-Aliassime laughed, explaining the transformation.

"At the end of the day, it's not rocket science. So I was just trying to put one more ball in the court and make it simple, make it work."

It was quite a contrast with the opening two sets when Auger-Aliassime overcooked his shots on both sides and sprayed 25 unforced errors, with Molcan gleefully taking advantage.

"The numbers show it but he was just way more consistent than I was in the first two sets," Auger-Aliassime conceded.

"I was just trying to find a way to stay a little bit longer on court, to make the match tough and make it last longer.

"When I was able to clinch that third set, I got a lot more of belief in myself, my thoughts were a lot more positive and then I was thinking: 'I've done it before maybe I can do it again, come back and win'.

"I'm really thrilled I was able to get it done. It was a tough day for me."

The Canadian, who lost the first set of his opening match against compatriot Vasek Pospisil on Monday, wrapped up the contest in just over three hours with a rasping forehand - the fifth time in his career he has come back to win a five-setter.

A quarter-finalist in Melbourne last year, Auger-Aliassime will next play Argentine 28th seed Francisco Cerundolo or France's Corentin Moutet.



Raducanu Beats Osaka in Straight Sets to Reach Washington Quarters 

Emma Raducanu of the United Kingdom participates in a press conference after winning a women's singles match against Naomi Osaka of Japan during on day 4 of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2025 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on July 24, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
Emma Raducanu of the United Kingdom participates in a press conference after winning a women's singles match against Naomi Osaka of Japan during on day 4 of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2025 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on July 24, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Raducanu Beats Osaka in Straight Sets to Reach Washington Quarters 

Emma Raducanu of the United Kingdom participates in a press conference after winning a women's singles match against Naomi Osaka of Japan during on day 4 of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2025 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on July 24, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
Emma Raducanu of the United Kingdom participates in a press conference after winning a women's singles match against Naomi Osaka of Japan during on day 4 of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2025 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on July 24, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)

Emma Raducanu beat four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 6-4 6-2 in their first career meeting to reach the quarter-finals of the Washington Open on Thursday.

Raducanu, US Open champion in 2021, next faces former world number three Maria Sakkari after the Greek stunned American second seed Emma Navarro in straight sets.

"I thought it was going to be a really difficult match. Naomi's won four slams, she's been world number one, won Masters," Raducanu told Sky Sports. "She's so dangerous and on the hard courts, I think she's particularly comfortable.

"I knew I was going to have to play well and manage my own service games, which I'm really proud of how I did. I was making some inroads in her service game after I got used to it a little bit.

"I'm really pleased with how I handled the ball speed and conditions here in DC."

Raducanu, who will reclaim the British number one ranking from Katie Boulter when the WTA rankings are released on Monday, is also into the women's doubles semi-finals alongside Wimbledon 2022 champion Elena Rybakina.

Venus Williams' comeback tournament after 16 months away from the game ended with a 6-2 6-2 loss to Polish fifth seed Magdalena Frech.

The 45-year-old seven-times singles Grand Slam champion became the oldest player to win a WTA singles match since 2004 when she beat Peyton Stearns in her Washington opener on Tuesday.