FAA scores another comeback win in Japan

Felix Auger-Aliassime continued his autumn comeback after a so-so season, with the Canadian earning a place on Wednesday in the quarter-finals at the ATP Tokyo tournament.

FAA, who won three events on the trot a year ago, managed to notch just his third victory in a dozen matches with a 6-4, 6-1 defeat of Austrian Sebastian Ofner in 95 minutes.

The Canadian swept the final six games of the match as he bursts into form with just weeks left in the Tour season; he last won two matches in a row at Indian Wells in March.

“I need results like this,” the winner said. “I believe in my game and I believe in myself that I have what it takes to win at this level.

“I’ve done it before but it is about doing it and having a lot of belief and a positive mind.

“I’m happy that my level is translating to the match court after a couple of months.”

There was disappointment for weekend Shanghai champion Hubert Hurkacz as the newest Masters winner collapsed to a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4) after two and a quarter hours against China’s Treble Zed, Zhang Zhizhen

Hurkacz is battling for a late place in November’s eight-man ATP Finals in Turin and had been hoping to improve his 11th-place standing in the points race.

He trails eighth-placed Holger Rune by 335 points, with the Dane given chances to pull away this week as he competes in Stockholm.