A Slow Start Gives Way to a Dominant Performance
Karen Khachanov made a statement at the US Open on Thursday, defeating third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in the second round at Flushing Meadows. The unseeded Russian had to work through a tight opening set, which the Canadian claimed via a tiebreak, but Khachanov shifted gears dramatically from the second set onward and never looked back.
Auger-Aliassime, who has twice reached the US Open semifinals and is a two-time finalist at the tournament, struggled to maintain his level as the match progressed. A growing number of unforced errors combined with Khachanov's laser-focused down-the-line winners made for a brutal combination, and the 26-year-old had no answer across the final three sets.
Questions Over Auger-Aliassime's Physical Condition
The Canadian had already raised fitness concerns heading into New York after withdrawing from the Rogers Cup in Montreal in August with a back injury. He had also reached the quarterfinals at both Wimbledon and the French Open earlier this season, suggesting real form and ambition entering the year's final Grand Slam.
Khachanov, 30, was measured in his post-match assessment. "Maybe he had some physical issues," the Russian noted, adding that such complications are simply a reality of professional tennis. He was equally clear about his own satisfaction with the win, calling himself "super happy" to advance.
The result compounds a turbulent early exit for top seeds at this year's US Open, following fourth seed Novak Djokovic's shocking first-round departure. TennisDraw users had Auger-Aliassime penciled deep into their bracket predictions, making this one of the bigger upsets of the draw so far.
