Auger-Aliassime beats fellow Canadian Shapovalov, will play Nadal in Madrid

Nadal, who had a bye in the first round, is considered the best clay-court player in the world.

The Spanish tennis great is looking to clinch his 50th tournament victory in his home country’s capital.

Auger-Aliassime has rocketed up the world tennis rankings this year, thanks in large part to some strong results in South American clay-court events, highlighted by a runner-up showing at the Rio Open.

He comes into the Madrid event ranked 30th. Shapovalov, of Richmond Hill, Ont., sits at No. 20.

Sunday marked the second time Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov have met in a tour event. Last year they played in the first round of the U.S. Open in New York, where Auger-Aliassime retired early due to a racing heart.

The pair are off to slow starts in the European clay-court season after both reached the semifinals in March at the Miami Open, a Masters 1000 hard-court event. Shapovalov has lost his past three matches, while Auger-Aliassime had dropped two of three going into Sunday’s event.

Milos Raonic and Bianca Andreescu, Canada’s top-ranked singles players on the men’s and women’s sides, will not play in the Madrid Open because of injuries.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Auger-Aliassime beats fellow Canadian Shapovalov, will play Nadal in Madrid

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