FELIX Auger-Aliassime has taken out one of the best grass court players of all-time, defeating Roger Federer in a come-from-behind three-set win at the Noventi Open in Halle, Germany. The unseeded Canadian was one of four winners into the quarter finals at the event, coming back from a first set loss to pounce 4-6 6-3 6-2 over the fifth seed Swiss star in one hour and 45 minutes on court.

Auger-Aliassime served 13 aces to five, and dominated his first serve, only dropping six points for the entire match. Whilst Federer managed to break him and reduced his second serve success rate to 62 per cent, it was still higher than the former world number one, who had a 62 and 53 per cent off his first and second serve winning rate respectively. By comparison, Federer faced 15 break points, and whilst he saved 12 of them, was constantly under pressure from the young Canadian who posted a win over his “childhood idol”.

“It’s a great victory, it’s good for my confidence. It was already a great challenge for me to play a player like Roger, but to beat him, it’s a great thing,” Auger-Aliassime said post-match. “It makes me really happy. But at the end, it’s the quarter-finals in two days.

“If it was the final, then I’d be really happy… it’s another step in the tournament, it’s a great match, so hopefully I can keep on going like that.”

Auger-Aliassime will now face American qualifier Marcos Giron who upset home nation hero Jan-Lennard Struff in three sets. Despite knocking off the top seed Daniil Medvedev in the Round of 32, Struff was not able to capitalise against Giron who won 6-7 6-3 6-4 in impressive style. It was better news for Struff’s compatriot in wildcard Philipp Kohlschreiber who defeated Frenchman Corentin Moutet in straight sets 6-4 7-6, to face off against fourth seed Russian Andrey Rublev in the next round. Rublev defeated Australian Jordan Thompson in a straightforward 6-4 6-4 match to earn his place in the final eight at Halle.

Meanwhile over in London, a couple of seeds fell and some Great Britain talents moved through in their home event on the grass. The only seed to advance to the quarter finals thus far was fourth seed Alex de Minaur who knocked off compatriot John Millman in straight sets, 6-1 6-3 to book his spot in the next round. Fifth seed Aslan Karatsev and eighth seed Fabio Fognini both fell in the second round, losing to unseeded players Cameron Norrie and Marin Cilic.

“I’m very close to Johnny, so I want him to do as well as possible and would have loved for him to be on the other side of the draw and go deep,” de Minaur said post-match. “In a way, it also brings a certain level of respect towards the match and in some ways it actually helps me. “I can kind of tell myself to be more focused and try to worry about my side of the court more. “I think I handled that very well today and [I am] very happy with my performance.”

Norrie knocked off Karatsev 7-5 6-2 to advance to the quarter finals, while Cilic won in straight sets over Fognini, 6-3 7-6. The Norrie victory was one of two for the home nation to cheer about, as wildcard Jack Draper upset the tricky and unseeded Kazakh Alexander Bublik in two tiebreakers. Draper won 7-5 in the first tiebreaker and 7-0 in the second for a 7-6 7-6 overall win and ability to secure a quarter finals spot.

“A huge win for me and definitely a big step up from my first round on Monday,” Norrie said post-match following his win over Australian Open semi-finalist Karatsev. “All credit to him, he’s having a great year. “He’s won a lot this year, so it’s a huge win for me and another match on the grass. It’s all invaluable stuff.”

NOVENTI OPEN ROUND OF 16 RESULTS:

[4] Andrey Rublev (RUS) defeated Jordan Thompson (AUS) 6-4 6-4
Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) defeated [5] Roger Federer (SUI) 4-6 6-3 6-2
[Q] Marcos Giron (USA) defeated Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) 6-7 6-3 6-4
[WC] Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) defeated Corentin Moutet (FRA) 6-4 7-6

CINCH CHAMPIONSHIPS ROUND OF 16 RESULTS:

[4] Alex de Minaur (AUS) defeated John Millman (AUS) 6-1 6-3
Cameron Norrie (GBR) defeated [5] Aslan Karatsev (RUS) 7-5 6-2
Marin Cilic (CRO) defeated [8] Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-3 7-6
[WC] Jack Draper (GBR) defeated Alexander Bublik (KAZ) 7-6 7-6

Picture credit: Thomas F. Starke/Getty Images