Khachanov defeats Auger‑Aliassime in US Open second round

Karen Khachanov knocked out Felix Auger‑Aliassime in the second round of the US Open on Thursday, winning 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. The Russian, unseeded for the tournament, rallied after a tight first‑set tiebreak to claim the match in just over three hours.

Why the upset matters

The defeat ends the Canadian’s run at Flushing Meadows, where he had previously reached the semi‑finals twice. Auger‑Aliassime, who has been a fixture among the Grand Slam seeds for the past decade, appeared to struggle with dizziness and visual disturbances midway through the second set, a factor that likely contributed to his 47 unforced errors.

Match dynamics

After edging the opening set, Khachanov seized control with aggressive backhand winners down the line. The Russian’s consistency forced the Canadian into a rash of errors, and the gap widened in the third and fourth sets.

"I just couldn't, feel well and was dizzy and seeing spots and couldn't recover. I thought maybe it would pass, but it didn't," the Canadian said after the match.

Khachanov noted the physical dip in his opponent after the third set, attributing it to possible heat or other factors, but also stressed his own effort in staying competitive for three and a half hours.

What lies ahead

Khachanov, ranked 50th, his lowest since 2017, will face a seeded player in the third round, a test of whether his recent resurgence can translate into a deeper run. Auger‑Aliassime, now without a coach following his split with Frédéric Fontang in July, said he will undergo medical tests and expects to announce a new coaching arrangement in the coming weeks.

The Canadian’s exit follows that of Novak Djokovic, the fourth seed who fell in the first round, underscoring the unpredictable nature of this year’s tournament.