TORONTO | For his debut at the National Bank Open in Toronto, Tuesday, the evening of his 23e anniversary, Félix Auger-Aliassime will face the Australian Max Purcell, from the qualifications.
The two players have already crossed swords once in a big event. It was two years ago, at the Tokyo Olympics, when Purcell replaced the injured Briton Andy Murray.
Auger-Aliassime had then lost the flag in two sets of 6-4 and 7-6 (2) against the one who now occupies the 78th place in the world and who beat the Canadian Brayden Schnur, Sunday, in the second round of qualifying in Toronto.
“FAA”, 10th favorite in the Queen City, and Purcell also faced each other once on the Challenger circuit, in 2017. The Quebecer had won this time in two tight sets in this qualifying match in Seoul.
Galarneau in action Monday morning
However, it is Félix’s good friend, Alexis Galarneau, who will kick off activities at the center in Toronto on Monday at 11 a.m.
The 192nd player in the world, guest of the organizers, will play against the 21st racket on the ATP, the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo.
If the rain doesn’t spoil the course of the day, two other representatives of the maple leaf should be in action in the evening, after a ceremony which will celebrate the winners of the Davis Cup.
For what should be his last appearance in Toronto, Milos Raonic (546th) will take the field at 7 p.m. to face the ninth seed, the American Frances Tiafoe.
He will be followed by Vasek Pospisil (167th), who will play against the qualified Matteo Arnaldi, an Italian who occupies the 65th level of the classification.
In women
Leylah Fernandez, Bianca Andreescu and Rebecca Marino now know their respective opponents as they all face a skilled player.
Fernandez (88th) will face American Peyton Stearns (59th).
Andreescu (44th) will face the Italian Camila Giorgi (51st) who won in Montreal in 2021. As for Marino (90th), she will face the Briton Katie Boulter (76th).
Fernandez and Andreescu will hit the action tomorrow while Marino will play the final game on center court on Monday night.
-With the collaboration of Dave Lévesque