Félix Auger-Aliassime’s US Open Exit Raises Concerns
Félix Auger-Aliassime’s US Open campaign ended with more questions than answers.
The third seed, tipped as one of the genuine contenders in New York, was beaten 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 by Karen Khachanov in the second round on Thursday, undone not just by the Russian’s weight of shot but by his own body suddenly turning on him.
For a set and a half, it looked like a proper contest. Auger-Aliassime edged a tight first-set tiebreak, trading heavy blows from the baseline and holding his nerve in the big moments. Then the match flipped.
He didn’t just fade. He unraveled.
Auger-Aliassime later revealed he had felt “dizzy” and was “seeing spots” from midway through the second set, symptoms that left him fighting simply to stay upright on court, never mind stay in the tournament.
"It's tough to talk about anything else than how I felt physically," he told reporters. "After a set and a half, I just didn't feel well and (was) dizzy and seeing spots. I thought maybe it would pass but it didn't. That's the end of the tournament for me and now back to the drawing board."
The numbers told the story of a player running on fumes. His first-serve percentage stalled at 58 per cent. He faced a staggering 20 break points and was broken seven times. The serve that usually anchors his game betrayed him: eight double faults, many of them at key moments, and 47 unforced errors sprayed around the court. Khachanov, steady and ruthless, finished with 30.
They matched each other with 12 aces apiece, but that was where the parity ended. Once Khachanov sensed the Canadian’s discomfort, he tightened his patterns, extended rallies, and dragged the third seed into exchanges he no longer had the clarity or energy to win.
"Karen's a great player, but I cannot beat him or anyone in this draw feeling the way I felt today," Auger-Aliassime admitted.
This is a brutal swing from last year’s high. Twelve months ago, Auger-Aliassime played his way into the semifinals in New York before falling to eventual runner-up Jannik Sinner. That run helped propel him to a career-high ranking of No. 4 in the world. Now, an early exit leaves that position under real threat.
What makes this setback more troubling is the uncertainty around it. Auger-Aliassime said he had felt fine heading into the match, with no warning signs in the warm-up or his preparation. The health issues hit without notice and never loosened their grip.
He plans to undergo tests when he returns home to try to understand what went wrong. At 26, with his prime years unfolding, he can’t afford for mystery ailments to become a recurring storyline.
There is change coming off the court as well. The Canadian confirmed he hopes to announce a new coach in the coming weeks after splitting with long-time mentor Frederic Fontang earlier in the summer. A new voice, a new structure, and now an unexpected health scare — the next phase of his career will begin under a cloud of uncertainty rather than the glow of a deep Slam run.
Canadian fortunes in New York were brighter elsewhere on Thursday.
In women’s doubles, second seeds Gabriela Dabrowski of Ottawa and Brazil’s Luisa Stefani made a sharp opening statement, dismantling Irina Khromacheva and Anastasia Detiuc 6-1, 6-3. They served with authority, firing four aces and 21 winners to just nine from their opponents, and controlled the match from the first game.
Dabrowski, who lifted her second US Open doubles title last year alongside Erin Routliffe, now chases more hardware with Stefani. Their next test will come against the winner of Friday’s clash between Sara Errani and Lilli Tagger and American twins Kristina and Annika Penickova.
Leylah Fernandez also enjoyed a smooth day on the doubles court. Teaming with Indonesia’s Janice Tjen, the Laval native cruised past Nika Radisic and Isabelle Haverlag 6-1, 6-1, barely giving the Slovenian-Dutch pair a foothold in the match. Fernandez and Tjen next face Routliffe and Aldila Sutjiadi, a pairing with serious pedigree.
Fernandez’s workload ramps up quickly. She was scheduled to return to singles on Friday for a third-round showdown with third seed Jessica Pegula, a match that promises a very different kind of test under the lights of Arthur Ashe or Louis Armstrong.
On the men’s side, Denis Shapovalov was also due on court Friday, set to face eighth-seeded American Ben Shelton in a third-round encounter that pits raw power against shot-making flair.
For Canadian tennis, the day mixed concern with optimism. Auger-Aliassime left New York searching for answers and a fresh start. Dabrowski, Stefani, Fernandez, and Shapovalov stayed very much in the fight.
The question now is whether this US Open becomes a blip in Auger-Aliassime’s rise, or the first real warning sign that his ascent will be anything but straightforward.
