Black Tennis Pros

On Thursday, August 22nd, day four of 2019 U.S. Open Fan Week, the Men's and Women's singles draws were announced. Through commentator and video presentations, each quarter of each draw was reviewed and analyzed.

Much attention was given to the fact that No. 8 seeded Serena Williams will compete against world no. 87 Maria Sharapova in the the first round.

The U.S. Open has broken down both draws completely by quarters.  All player information and related analysis can be read at usopen.org.

WOMEN'S SINGLES

Naomi Osaka, JPN(1) vs. A. Blinkova, RUS
WC Coco Gauff, USA vs. Anastasia Potapova, RUS
Sloane Stephens, USA(11) vs. Qualifier
WC Whitney Osuigwe, USA vs. Elina Svitolina, UKR(5)
Venus Williams, USA vs. Saisai Zheng, CHN
Madison Keys,  USA(10) vs. Misaki Doi, JPN
Serena Williams, USA(8) vs. Maria Sharapova, RUS
Taylor Townsend, USA(Q) vs. Kateryna Kozlova, UKR

MEN'S SINGLES

Christopher Eubanks, USA vs. Cristian Garin, CHI(31)
Gael Monfils, FRA(13) vs. Albert Ramos-Vinolas, ESP
Felix Auger-Aliassime, CAN(18) vs. Dennis Shapovalov, CAN
Frances Tiafoe, USA vs. Ivo Karlovic, CRO
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, FRA vs. Tennys Sandgren, USA

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We ain’t here for a long time we here for a good time. #brotherhood #realrecognizesreal 📸 credzz: @ccsnaps13

A post shared by Frances Tiafoe (@bigfoe1998) on Jul 27, 2019 at 9:29pm PDT

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✅ First Masters 1000 quarter-final
✅ First qualifier in #MiamiOpen quarter-final since 2007@felixtennis is continuing to break new ground after beating Basilashvili 7-6(4) 6-4 pic.twitter.com/idoVF9bT4l

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 26, 2019

BIG FOE 🙌@FTiafoe ends Ferrer's run in Miami, winning 5-7 6-3 6-3#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/qA6dGhxeVA

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 26, 2019

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Félix Auger-Aliassime’s desert days come to a end in three epic sets in the third round of the #BNPPO19, 6-7(2), 6-4, 7-6(5) to Nishioka.
It was a brilliant run and surely just another step on the road to the top for the 18 year old. 👊#FélixRising pic.twitter.com/N4GFMbXDzo

— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) March 12, 2019

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INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime has advanced to the second round of the BNP Paribas Open.

The 18-year-old from Montreal crushed Cameron Norrie of Britain 6-3, 6-2 in the first match on centre court on Thursday at the ATP Tour Masters 1000 event.

Auger-Aliassime, ranked 58th in the world, had 20 winners — 12 more than the 48th-ranked Norrie.

The Canadian got 80 per cent of his first serves in and had the same percentage for first-serve points, well above Norrie's 59 per-cent success rate on the latter stat.

Auger-Aliassime converted on all three of his break-point opportunities and won all his service games.

The result continues an impressive stretch for Auger-Aliassime, who moved well inside the top 100 for the first time in his career after making the final and quarterfinals, respectively, in his past two events on clay in Brazil.

Auger-Aliassime will next face No. 9 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, who got a first-round bye. The 20-year-old Tsitsipas made headlines in Toronto last year when he advanced to the final of the Rogers Cup.

No. 13 seed Milos Raonic of Thornhill, Ont., and No. 24 seed Denis Shapovalov will join Auger-Aliassime in the second round after getting first-round byes.

On the women's side, Eugenie Bouchard of Westmount, Que., was scheduled to play a first-round match later Thursday against Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium.

Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont., had Thursday off after winning her first-round match on Wednesday.

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Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in quarter final of the 2019 Brasil Open.

Serbian Laslo Djere and Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime met in the Brazil Open quarter final five days after dueling for the title in Rio De Janeiro. Just like on Rio clay, Djere triumphed and eliminated the young Canadian 6/2, 3/6, 6/3.

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Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime hit the clay courts today and continued his ability to successfully ascend through recent tournaments.  Auger-Aliassime defeated Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-6(2), 7-6(5).


Auger-Aliassime also experienced ankle issues during the match, hopefully they will be resolved overnight.

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Felix Auger-Aliassime through to 2nd round at the 2019 Brasil Open

(ATP Tour) #NextGenATP Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime is here to stay. The 18-year-old knocked out a seed in his opening-round match for the second week in a row on Wednesday, beating fifth seed Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 at the Brasil Open in Sao Paulo.

Auger-Aliassime beat Cuevas on Saturday in the Rio Open presented by Claro semi-finals to make his maiden ATP Tour final (l. to Djere). That run propelled him into the Top 100 and to where he sits today, at a career-high ATP Ranking of No. 60.

“It's definitely my breakthrough of my career,” Auger-Aliassime said of his time in the South American country. “As a young guy, it's a big moment whenever you crack the Top 100, and now with the [crowd] support that I'm getting obviously I'm enjoying it more and more, and hopefully I can go far again this week.”

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Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime and Laslo Đere during 2019 Rio Open Final Trophy Presentation

Félix Auger-Aliassime was disappointed with the loss and how he played, especially in the serving game, but give all the credits to Djere for the win. “Obviously today was tougher, especially my second serve fell apart for some reason and had been serving well for the whole tournament. It’s a little bit disappointing because obviously I was playing for the title and it was big for me. But at the same time I’m not gonna lose to much sleep for this loss. I've done good things this week and I’m gonna stick with the positives.”

The 18-year-old Canadian had the best week of his young career. He received a wild card for the main draw and defeated in the first round the number 2 seed, Italian Fábio Fognini. Then he got past by Christian Garin (7/5, 6/4), Jaume Munar (6/4, 6/3) and in the semifinals the experienced Uruguayan and 2016 champion, Pablo Cuevas (6/3, 3/6, 6/3). “It was one of the most special tournaments that I played. And having Guga in the audience in the final, a great inspiration, it was special. I will continue working and hope to return next year” said Auger-Aliassime.

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Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime displays tremendous excitement as he defeats Argentinian Pablo Cuevas, and surges through to 2019 Rio Open final.

RIO OPEN - Canadian rising star Felix Auger-Aliassime upset 2016 Rio Open champion Pablo Cuevas and paved his way to become, at 18 years 6 months and 16 days, the youngest player to reach an ATP 500 final.

This Sunday in Rio, at 5pm, at Court Guga Kuerten, the Canadian will take on another finalist first-timer: Serbian Laslo Djere, 23.

One of the most celebrated players of the ATP NexGen, Auger-Aliassime needed two hours to score 6/3, 3/6 and 6/3 and defeat the experienced Uruguayan, who saved three match points.

“It feels great, the match was pretty tough, pretty complete today, I felt good from the start and thought I could have a shot to win. I was feeling my shots well and serving well too. But then he came back strong at the second set and I felt a lot of pressure from him. And then in the third set I came back strong again, I was able to break him early and then hold my serve. It was tough to finish when you’re so close to the line but I managed to stay calm and got the job done”, said the Canadian.

This Saturday’s win crowned an excellent week for Auger-Aliassime in Rio. The Canadian started by beating a Top 20 for the second time in his career: Fabio Fognini in the first round (previously he had already defeated Lucas Pouille). Then he took on Chilean Christian Garin and NextGen and Rafael Nadal’s pupil Jaume Munar before stunning Cuevas.

“I felt the effect’s of yesterday’s long match [against Albert Ramos-Vinola], I was a bit slower and with low energy. Felix is an aggressive player who took advantage of that. He served really well, he played well and deserved the win. He is very talented and I’m sure he’s got a bright future ahead”, said Cuevas, 33.

Auger-Aliassime received a wild card to play in Rio this year because of his impressive performance recently. He already has four Challenger tour titles and had a fantastic performance in the Canadian victory against Slovakia at the Davis Cup, guaranteeing the qualification of his country to the finals.

With the win over Cuevas he became the youngest ATP 500 finalist since the level was established, in 2009 _previous record holder was Alexander Zverev, who made it to the final in Halle in 2016 at 19 years and 2 months.

And since the Canadian started playing in Rio he became a crowd favorite.

“It’s been great. Every time you have a breakthrough as a young guy it’s a special moment and all the environment is important and from the first day I felt good in Rio, from the hotel I’m staying at, the places I’ve seen and the energy from the people. That’s really strong and I strongly believe that it has pushed me to where I am today, this week, and maybe I can give one last push with the support of the crowd tomorrow.”

As for the match this Sunday, Auger-Aliassime expects nothing less than a battle.

“Laslo had a great week also. I wouldn’t say I’m a heavy favorite, maybe to the crowd I’ll have their support, but it’s going to be a tough match. I haven’t played him yet, but I’ve seen what he’s doing and it’s going to be a battle. At the end for me, title or no title it’s not the most important thing. At the end I want to have a successful career every year and I don’t want to be remembered for a final or a title that I won when I was 18. I’m on the right track.”

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Felix’s #FridayFeeling 🙌

Felix Auger-Aliassime dispatches of Jaume Munar 6-4 6-3 to reach his first career ATP semi-finals! pic.twitter.com/MNKbEm0LLy

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 23, 2019

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First ATP 500 quarterfinals!

And a change of kit 🇧🇷@felixtennis #RioOpen pic.twitter.com/t5VTaxp4at

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 21, 2019

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Eighteen-year-old Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime at the 2019 Rio Open

RIO DE JANEIRO — Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime cruised to a 6-2, 6-3 upset of second-seed Fabio Fognini on Tuesday at the Rio Open tennis tournament.

Fognini, ranked No. 16 in the world, is the highest ranked player to lose to the 104th-ranked Canadian teen. It's Auger-Aliassime's second win over a top-20 opponent after he defeated then No. 18 Lucas Pouille in the opening round of last year's Rogers Cup in Toronto.

Auger-Aliassime, a wild-card in Rio, is expected to move into the top-100 after the tournament. He will next face Chile's Christian Garin, ranked 91 in the world, in the second round.

Showing veteran poise, Auger-Aliassime fended off all five break points he faced while converting three of the five break point presented to him by his Italian opponent. The Canadian's return game was also strong, as he limited Fognini to one ace, and held the veteran to converting on 60 per cent of first serve points and just 45 per cent of second serve points.

Auger-Aliassime's matchup with Fognini was a potential Davis Cup preview. Canada is in a group with Italy and the United States to open the Davis Cup finals, which will be held November in Madrid.

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A message from our 🇨🇦 @DavisCup heroes, @denis_shapo & @felixtennis : 👇 pic.twitter.com/M5ey6fqqmV

— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) February 2, 2019

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Davis Cup preparations underway 🤜🏽🤛🏽 🇨🇦 #fellowship #letsgetdirty #bros

A post shared by Féliuger-Aliassime (@felixaliassime) on Jan 30, 2019 at 12:03pm PST

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Heartbreaking scene in New York as Felix Auger-Aliassime retires after heart issues at the #USOpen.

Starts to cry as he comes together at the net with his Canadian friend and teammate, @denis_shapo pic.twitter.com/Ik4wc3FQCM

— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) August 27, 2018

After having a trainer visit two games into the third set of  the 2018 U.S. Open first round, eighteen-year-old Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime worked the court slower and slower and eventually retired from the match against his close friend and fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov.

Shapovalov came over to his teary-eyed friend and provided very admirable support. Courtside microphones picked up Auger-Aliassime telling Shapovalov: “My team said it’s just not worth it.”

 “What me and Felix have is truly incredible,” Shapovalov said. “It’s truly making the sport bigger in our country, and hopefully we continue to do that.”

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Twenty-nine-year-old Donald Young has made the US Open main draw every year for 14 years, and continued to do so this year in a very exciting way. Young came through the qualifying rounds with true grit and workmanship. So great to see him continue to move forward.

Keep it movin' Donald Young!!

Eighteen-year-old Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime also powered through the 2018 US Open qualifying rounds thereby obtaining a spot in the main draw.Unbeknownst to him, round one of the tournament would pit him against friend and fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov. Win or lose, Auger-Aliassime is a sight to behold in the game.

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