Unplayable Auger-Aliassime beats Ruud to challenge Sinner in Madrid quarter-finals
What a performance! Simply immense. We'd rather forgotten it, but Félix Auger-Aliassime is capable of playing at an extremely high level. And that's exactly what he did. Buoyed by a killer serve and destructive groundstrokes, the Canadian produced one of the best matches of his career to topple Casper Ruud (6-4, 7-5 in 2h).
Faced with a Norwegian a little blunted by the succession of matches, the former world number 6 seized his chance perfectly. Playing at a level worthy of the best players in the world (32 winners, 13 unforced errors, 3 aces), he gave Casper Ruud no chance. With this stunning success, Auger-Aliassime is back in the world's top 30.
Ruud, for his part, will be able to rest a little, so as to be able to get back on track with the arrival of Rome and the French Open.
In the quarter-finals, the Canadian will take on Jannik Sinner. The Italian, obviously still suffering from a hip injury, took care of business by disposing of a fine Karen Khachanov in just over 2 hours (5-7, 6-3, 6-3). Although not necessarily always playing his best tennis, the winner of the last Australian Open is already in the quarter-finals and still in the running.
One thing is certain: Auger-Aliassime will have to do at least as well as he did today if he is to become the third player to topple Sinner this season.
Madrid 
Davis Cup: between reforms, criticism and national culture 
When tennis stars change courts: from Noah the singer to Safin the deputy, another match – the battle of reinvention 
As a laboratory for tomorrow’s tennis, does the Next Gen Masters have a future? 
Tennis: the little-known truths about the offseason, between rest, stress and physical survival 
