In a stunning turn of events at the US Open, Felix Auger-Aliassime, who was a semi-finalist in the previous year, became the highest-ranked player to exit the tournament early. The Canadian was defeated in the second round by Russia's Karen Khachanov, who won in four sets with a scoreline of 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
Auger-Aliassime entered the tournament as one of the contenders expected to make a deep run in the men's draw, which has been characterized by its unpredictability this year. However, he struggled to maintain his momentum after initially taking a 3-0 lead in the first set. Despite his promising start, a series of unforced errors allowed Khachanov to capitalize, ultimately leading to Auger-Aliassime's downfall.
Khachanov, currently ranked 50th in the world, had not been in peak form leading up to the US Open, having lost in the first round of all three of his preparation events. However, he demonstrated resilience and tactical acumen during the match. After losing the first set in a tiebreak, Khachanov regrouped and took control of the match, breaking Auger-Aliassime's serve multiple times.
After the match, Khachanov reflected on his opponent's performance, suggesting that Auger-Aliassime may have been dealing with physical issues. "I saw that maybe he had some physical issues... it’s part of our sport. I wish him to feel better, speedy recovery if he’s injured, I don’t know," he stated. Khachanov emphasized his own determination, saying, "What I can say from my side is I tried to give my best performance, fighting, fighting. I’m super happy to get this win." This victory marked only his second win against a top-10 player at a Grand Slam event.
The match was played on the Louis Armstrong Stadium court, where Khachanov's ability to break serve was critical. He managed to break Auger-Aliassime's serve seven times while saving seven of the nine break points he faced. This performance not only secured him a spot in the third round but also marked a significant achievement, as it was the first time he reached the third round of all four Grand Slam tournaments in a single calendar year.
As the match progressed, Auger-Aliassime's energy seemed to wane, particularly in the later sets. Khachanov quickly established a 4-0 lead in the fourth set, which highlighted Auger-Aliassime's struggles. The match concluded with Khachanov delivering a powerful serve that Auger-Aliassime could not return, sealing the upset.
Looking ahead, Khachanov will face either Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi or Peruvian 32nd seed Ignacio Buse in the next round. This unexpected victory adds a new layer of excitement to the tournament, as the men's draw continues to evolve with surprising outcomes.
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