Cressy Upsets Auger-Aliassime With Flawless Serving Display

Maxime Cressy's rapid rise continued Tuesday in an eye-catching Wimbledon debut. Relying on the serve-and-volley game that dominated the All England Lawn Tennis Club for much of its history, the World No. 45 earned his first Top 10 win by defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime with a near-perfect serving performance.

In a 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(9), 7-6(5) victory, Cressy charged the net 134 times, winning 71 per cent (95/134) of those points. In a match of fine margins, both players dominated on serve. The American saved the lone break point he faced — at 5-5 in the opening set — while Auger-Aliassime saved three of four.

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The Canadian's bright start was dimmed when Cressy scored the only break of the match early in set two. But the complexion of the match truly shifted when Cressy won a dramatic third-set tie-break to edge ahead for the first time.

Auger-Aliassime erased a 0/4 deficit in the tie-break, levelling at 5/5 with his third straight point on return. Normal service resumed at the crucial moments, with nine points going the way of the server until a double fault handed Cressy the set. One point before at 9/9, Cressy fired an unreturned 126-mph second serve to bring up his third set point. He previously saved two set points on serve.

With Cressy serving to start the fourth set, he applied constant scoreboard pressure onto his opponent — in addition to the pressure of his relentless attacking game plan. Auger-Aliassime stood firm with his back to the wall and saved a match point at 5-6, Cressy just missing on a potential a return winner.

But the American struck several sweet returns in the tie-break, then clinched the match with another successful serve and volley, carving his 59th winner of the match to close it out after four hours and nine minutes.

Both players played a remarkably clean match, with Auger-Aliassime a plus-37 in the winners-to-unforced-errors count behind 64 winners. But it was not enough to stop Cressy, who finished plus-30.

The American advances to face qualifier Jack Sock in the second round after his countryman earned a 7-6(6), 6-4, 6-4 win against Bernabe Zapata Miralles earlier on Tuesday.

More to come...

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