Karen Khachanov earned his first Top 10 win of the year on Thursday at the US Open, where he upset World No. 4 and last year’s semi-finalist Felix Auger-Aliassime, who struggled physically for long periods on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
After winning the first set, Auger-Aliassime sprayed 30 unforced errors and quickly faded from the three-hour, 16-minute clash. The Canadian was unable to find his timing and was dominated on his second serve, winning just 41 per cent of points behind that delivery, with Khachanov triumphing 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
Afterward, the third seed opened up on the physical issues he was struggling with.
“It's tough to talk about anything other than how I felt physically. After a set and a half, I just couldn't feel well and was dizzy and seeing spots and couldn't recover,” Auger-Aliassime said. “I thought maybe it would pass, but it didn't.”
After reaching the semi-finals at the US Open 12 months ago, Auger-Aliassime is likely to fall in the PIF ATP Rankings, with Flavio Cobolli, Daniil Medvedev, Ben Shelton and Alex de Minaur all still alive. That foursome is currently fifth to eighth in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.
“I've never felt quite like that,” Auger-Aliassime continued. “I've had cramps before. I've felt tired towards the end of matches, but in a normal way. This was a little bit abnormal, and there were no signs in the last couple of days and no signs this morning, as well. Yeah, I'm not sure. I'm going to run some tests and see what comes out of it.”
Khachanov arrived in New York having lost all three hard-court matches that he had played since his third-round defeat at Wimbledon in July. The 30-year-old is also competing at No. 50 in the PIF ATP Rankings this week, having been inside the Top 10 last year at the hard-court major.
Despite enduring a tough season, in which he holds an 18-18 record, the 30-year-old has now advanced to at least the third round at all four majors this year.
"I wish him to feel better and speedy recovery if he is injured, I don't know. What I can say from my side is I tried to give my best performance," Khachanov said in his on-court interview. "I was fighting and I am super happy to get this win."
It is the first time Khachanov has advanced to the third round at Flushing Meadows since he reached the semi-finals in 2022. The seven-time tour-level titlist will next meet Peruvian star Ignacio Buse or Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi.
"The last month didn't go well for me, so we have been practising and I am sure I am fit," Khachanov added." The last tournament of the American swing, with the US Open, coming with the mindset to perform well and to try to take one step at a time."
Auger-Aliassime performed well at Roland Garros and Wimbledon this season, losing in the quarter-finals at both events, including a fifth-set tie-break defeat to Novak Djokovic at SW19. The 26-year-old was chasing his 50th major win and was trying to join Denis Shapovalov and Milos Raonic as just the third Canadian man to achieve that feat.
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