Third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime's run at the US Open has ended in the second round following a straight-sets defeat to unseeded Russian Karen Khachanov. The Canadian, who had reached the semi-finals of this tournament twice before, fell 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-2 6-2 in a match marked by mounting errors and precision striking from his opponent.
Auger-Aliassime managed to secure the opening set through a tie-break, but his performance deteriorated significantly thereafter. A combination of unforced mistakes and a series of expertly placed winners from Khachanov, particularly down the sidelines, proved decisive in sending the 26-year-old out of the competition.
The Canadian's exit came shortly after fourth seed Novak Djokovic's shock elimination in the first round, continuing a pattern of unexpected departures from the men's draw. This result adds to what has been a challenging period for Auger-Aliassime, who reached the quarter-finals at both Wimbledon and the French Open earlier this year before withdrawing from the Rogers Cup in Montreal during August due to a back injury.
Khachanov, 30, acknowledged the circumstances surrounding the match in his post-game comments.
Maybe he had some physical issues. It's part of our sport, it's part of tennis. I'm super happy to get this win.
The Russian's victory represents a significant upset, as he entered the tournament without seeding and faced one of the tournament's highest-ranked competitors. His performance on the court, particularly his aggressive baseline play and ability to construct points methodically, overwhelmed Auger-Aliassime when the Canadian's level dropped after the first set.
Auger-Aliassime's early exit reflects broader challenges within men's tennis, where depth issues have become increasingly apparent among top-ranked players, with injuries and inconsistent performances affecting tournament outcomes across the major championships.
