Challenger comeback after costly Madrid loss

World no. 19 Felix Auger-Aliassime experienced an early Madrid masters loss. The Canadian experienced a major blow after battling for the title in Caja Magica a year ago, dropping 640 ATP points and leaving the top-25. 

Felix fell to a qualifier Juan Manuel Cerundolo 7-6, 6-4 in an hour and 53 minutes and made a bold move. Auger-Aliassime took next week’s Estoril Challenger wild card, returning to this level of competition for the first time since Janury 2019!

After welcoming the ATP Tour since 1990, the Estoril Open will host a Challenger this year before returning to the main level in the next two years. At the moment, Alex Michelsen, Nuno Borges, Miomir Kecmanovic, Pedro Martinez, Kei Nishikori and Joao Fonseca are also on the entry listy.

Juan Manuel Cerúndolo consigue la mejor victoria de su carrera y le gana a Auger-Aliassime (#17, finalista 2024).

Vamos la puta madre carajo!!! pic.twitter.com/cBa2OqgyVy

— Emiliano (@palitotenis) April 25, 2025

Auger-Aliassime had a chance to lift his first Masters 1000 trophy in Madrid last year, giving everything against Andrey Rublev before falling 4-6, 7-5, 7-5. The Canadian could not repeat that run this year after another tight defeat.

Thus, the former world no. 7 experienced his fourth straight defeat since Miami, the third on clay, deciding to step down and enter his first Challenger in over six years. Felix will try to return to the winning way in Estoril ahead of the Rome Masters.

Auger-Aliassime and Cerundolo stayed neck and neck, with the Argentine collecting four points more than the better-ranked opponent. A qualifier tamed his strokes nicely and landed 20 winners and 17 unforced errors. World no. 19 attacked and hit 30 winners and 39 mistakes. 

Felix generated nine points more in service winners and at the net. However, Juan Manuel reduced it from the baseline. The Caandian performed well behind the first and second serve. He denied…