The 33rd edition of the Hopman Cup is taking place in Bari, Italy this weekend. This prestigious mixed gender tennis tournament had been in Perth, Australia for 31 years from 1989 to 2019, before coming to France in 2023.
The Canadians are being represented by 2019 United States Open champion Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ontario, and 2021 United States Open semifinalist Felix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal, Quebec. The format of the tournament is similar to the United Cup. There is a women’s singles match, a men’s singles match, and then a mixed doubles match if necessary.
On Friday, Canada opened the tournament by defeating Spain two matches to none in Group A action. Andreescu was up first and clobbered Marina Bassois Ribera 6-0, 6-1. Auger-Aliassime then helped Canada beat Spain as he beat 2019 Wimbledon semifinalist Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 7-6.
This was the fourth time Auger-Aliassime has beaten Bautista Agut in seven meetings. His other three wins came in the semifinals of Cologne in 2020 (6-3, 1-6, 6-3), the third round of the 2021 United States Open (6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3) and the final of the 2022 ATP Cup (7-6, 6-3).
Auger-Aliassime is 3-7 all-time against Tsitsipas. Auger-Aliassime’s wins came in the second round of Indian Wells in 2019 (6-4, 6-2), in the quarterfinals of Queen’s in 2019 (7-5, 6-2), and in the final of Rotterdam in 2022 (6-4, 6-2). This was Auger-Aliassime’s first of seven ATP titles.