Felix Auger-Aliassime Exits US Open Early, Seeks Answers

Felix Auger-Aliassime arrived in New York as a contender. He left the US Open on Thursday searching for answers.

The third seed bowed out in the second round, beaten 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 by Karen Khachanov, a loss that quickly turned from a tennis contest into a battle with his own body.

For a set and a half, Auger-Aliassime looked in the fight. He edged a tight first-set tiebreak, striking the ball cleanly enough to suggest this might be another deep run at Flushing Meadows. Then the match flipped.

Not because Khachanov suddenly found another gear — though the Russian was solid and relentless — but because the Canadian’s body betrayed him.

“After a set and a half, I just didn't feel well and was dizzy and seeing spots,” Auger-Aliassime told reporters. “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.”

From that point on, the scoreline told a stark story. The 26-year-old’s serve, usually a cornerstone of his hard-court game, fell apart. He landed only 58 per cent of first serves, faced 20 break points and was broken seven times. Eight double faults crept into his game. So did 47 unforced errors, far more than Khachanov’s 30.

Khachanov did what seasoned pros do when they sense weakness: he tightened the screws. Both men finished with 12 aces, but the Russian’s steadiness contrasted sharply with the Canadian’s increasingly laboured movement and ragged execution.

“Karen's a great player, but I cannot beat him or anyone in this draw feeling the way I felt today,” Auger-Aliassime said.

The concern for him goes beyond a single defeat. A semifinalist at last year’s US Open, where he fell to eventual runner-up Jannik Sinner, Auger-Aliassime arrived this year as world No. 4. An early exit like this one puts that career-high ranking under threat and interrupts the momentum he had been building at the majors.

What makes the episode more troubling is the lack of a clear cause. Auger-Aliassime said he felt fine before stepping on court and only began to struggle midway through the match. He plans to undergo tests when he returns home to understand what went wrong.

The timing is delicate. The Canadian is already in a period of transition after parting ways with long-time coach Frederic Fontang earlier in the summer. He said he hopes to announce a new coach in the coming weeks — a key decision for a player trying to consolidate himself at the top of the game while managing a demanding schedule and, now, unexpected health concerns.

While Auger-Aliassime’s singles campaign ended abruptly, Canadian fortunes in doubles offered a brighter note on the day.

In women’s doubles, second seeds Gabriela Dabrowski of Ottawa and Brazilian partner Luisa Stefani made a sharp opening statement, dismissing Irina Khromacheva and Anastasia Detiuc 6-1, 6-3. They dominated behind their serves, producing four aces and 21 winners to just nine from their opponents, and never allowed the Russian-Czech pair to settle.

Dabrowski, who lifted her second US Open doubles trophy last year alongside Erin Routliffe, now pushes forward with Stefani in pursuit of another title in New York. Their next assignment will come against the winners of Friday’s clash between Sara Errani and Lilli Tagger and American twins Kristina and Annika Penickova.

Leylah Fernandez also enjoyed a commanding day on the doubles court. Teaming up with Indonesia’s Janice Tjen, the Laval native cruised past Nika Radisic and Isabelle Haverlag 6-1, 6-1, a ruthless performance that underlined her growing comfort in the format. Fernandez and Tjen will next face Routliffe and Indonesian partner Aldila Sutjiadi in what promises to be a far sterner test.

Fernandez’s workload is only just ramping up. She is scheduled to return to singles duty on Friday for a third-round showdown with third seed Jessica Pegula, a marquee encounter that could further elevate her status at this tournament.

On the men’s side, Denis Shapovalov is also set for a high-profile test in the third round, where he will meet eighth-seeded American Ben Shelton. With Auger-Aliassime out, Shapovalov’s match now carries an extra layer of intrigue for Canadian fans looking for a deep run in the men’s draw.

For Auger-Aliassime, though, the New York lights dimmed far earlier than expected. The next time he steps onto a big stage, the question won’t just be about his form or his ranking. It will be whether his body lets him show the player he still believes he can be.