Felix Auger-Aliassime outlasted Rinky Hijikata 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in a four-set US Open match. The Canadian edged a tight opener by breaking twice after conceding the first break, then closed out the match with two more breaks in the final set.
Hijikata struck first in game five of the first set, but Auger-Aliassime hit back at 5-5 and again in game twelve for 7-5. Hijikata levelled by taking the second set 6-4, converting his only break chance in game five. The third saw Auger-Aliassime open 2-0, lose the lead to 3-2, then break straight back for 4-2 and hold on for 6-3. In the fourth, Auger-Aliassime broke for 5-4, Hijikata responded to 5-5, and Auger-Aliassime broke once more in game eleven to seal 7-5.
Auger-Aliassime’s first serve was the key in the opener: he landed 70% of first serves, won 84% of those points and fired two aces. That early platform carried him through a match in which he saved his best returning for the closing games of each set he won.