Felix Auger-Aliassime from Montreal has expressed his determination to his fans, stating that he is "getting closer" to achieving his goals despite a series of recent disappointing performances. His latest showing at the U.S. Open, held in New York, proved pivotal as he achieved a significant milestone by defeating Alexander Zverev of Germany, who is currently ranked third in the world.
In a thrilling match on Saturday, Auger-Aliassime showcased his tenacity and skill, winning with a score of 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4, 6-4 after three hours and 49 minutes of play. Following this remarkable victory, the 25-year-old Canadian celebrated by gesturing to the crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium, signaling that he is steadfast in his pursuit of further success in the Grand Slam tournament.
“This one feels very good,” Auger-Aliassime remarked with a smile after his victory, emphasizing that while he has worked diligently to reach this stage, he is aware that there is still more work to be done. The win against Zverev was particularly significant, as it marked the first occasion he has defeated a player ranked in the top five at a major event.
In terms of match statistics, Auger-Aliassime demonstrated impressive offensive capabilities, landing 50 winners compared to Zverev's 29. Though he recorded more unforced errors (35 to 31) and double faults (8 to 5), his serve was notably effective; winning 78 percent of his first and second serves. He was also able to convert three of his six break points, illustrating his strategic prowess on the court.
Meanwhile, earlier on the same day, fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov faced a tough challenge and was knocked out of the U.S. Open after a hard-fought match against top-seeded Jannik Sinner of Italy. Shapovalov initially surged to a 5-2 lead before Sinner rallied back to level the score and ultimately clinch the first set 7-5. The Canadian managed to take the second set 6-4 but lost momentum thereafter.
Shapovalov did show flashes of brilliance, leading 3-0 in the third set before Sinner countered with a six-game winning streak. Sinner asserted his dominance in the fourth set, establishing a 4-1 lead before sealing his victory in four sets: 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. Shapovalov's match statistics included 15 aces, but he also struggled with 47 unforced errors, a significant factor in his defeat.
Sinner, while less aggressive in terms of aces, successfully capitalized on his break point opportunities, converting six out of 13 chances to end Shapovalov's run in the tournament.
In women's doubles action, Leylah Fernandez from Laval, Quebec, partnered with American tennis icon Venus Williams to secure a place in the third round. They triumphed over the Japanese duo Eri Hozumi and Ulrikke Eikeri from Norway, winning 7-6 (1), 6-1. Fernandez and Williams exhibited a strong performance, breaking their opponents on four of seven chances and winning 79 percent of their first-serve points, alongside hitting 29 winners compared to 19 from their opponents.
The successful duo of Fernandez and Williams is set to face either Great Britain's Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal or the pair of Shuai Zhang and Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova in their next match, adding excitement to their campaign in the U.S. Open.
