Canadian tennis star Félix Auger-Aliassime saw his 2026 U.S. Open campaign end abruptly on Thursday in New York. He fell to Russia's Karen Khachanov in a second-round match that highlighted significant struggles with his service game.
The 47 unforced errors that derailed the third seed
Félix Auger-Aliassime's performance against Karen Khachanov was characterized by a lack of precision that ultimately cost him the match. As the report details, the Canadian third seed committed 47 unforced errors throughout the contest, significantly outstripping Khachanov's 30 errors. While both players managed to record 12 aces, the match was decided by Auger-Aliassime's inability to maintain control of his rhythm.
The service game, typically a strength for the Canadian, became a liability during the four-set battle. According to the report, Auger-Aliassime was accurate on only 58 per cent of his first serves and faced a total of 20 break points. of those opportunities, he surrendered seven, allowing Khachanov to seize momentum after winning a tight opening-set tiebreak of 7-6 (5). Following that initial set, the Russian player dominated the subsequent three sets with scores of 6-3, 6-2, and 6-2.
A stark reversal from the 2025 semifinals run
This early exit represents a significant departure from Auger-Aliassime's performance at the same tournament last year. In the 2025 U.S. Open,the Canadian reached the semifinals, a deep run that propelled him to a career-high world ranking of No. 4. That previous run ended at the hands of Jannik Sinner,who eventually became the tournament's runner-up.
The loss in New York this year places his No. 4 ranking in immediate jeopardy. Without the points gained from a deep run like his previous year, Auger-Aliassime faces a difficult climb to maintain his current standing in the global tennis hierarchy. The contrast betewen his 2025 success and this year's second-round exit underscores the volatility of Grand Slam competition.
The mystery of the first-round fall against Rinky Hijikata
One of the most pressing questions following the match involves the physical condition of the Canadian star.. During his opening match against Australia's Rinky Hijikata on Monday , Auger-Aliassime suffered a fall while attempting to return a ball. While he managed to advance to the second round despite the incident, it remains unverified whether this fall resulted in any lingering injury that hampered his performance against Khachanov.
The source does not specify if medical staff treated the player or if the fall was a minor stumble,leaving fans and analysts to wnoder if physical discomfort played a role in his eight double faults and high error count.. If the fall caused even a minor strain, it could explain the lack of service accuracy that defined his Thursday defeat.
Fernandez and Shapovalov carry the remaining Canadian interest
Despite the disappointment of Auger-Aliassime's exit, Canada remains represented in the later stages of the tournament through other key athletes. Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Quebec, showed strong form in the women's doubles division, securing a dominant 6-1, 6-1 victory alongside partner Janice Tjen of Indonesia. Fernandez is also scheduled to return to singles competition on Friday, where she will face the third-seeded American Jessica Pegula in a third-round matchup.
On the men's side, Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ontario, continues Canada's presence in the draw. Shapovalov is slated to compete in Friday's third-round action against the eighth-seeded American Ben Shelton. With Auger-Aliassime out, the pressure shifts to these remaining players to maintain Canada's visibility on the New York hardcourts.
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