Khachanov upsets Auger-Aliassime at US Open

Karen Khachanov recorded his first Top 10 victory of the year on Thursday at the US Open, defeating World No. 4 Felix Auger-Aliassime, last year’s semi-finalist, in a match in which the Canadian struggled physically for extended periods at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Although Auger-Aliassime won the first set, he was unable to maintain his level as the match wore on, committing 30 unforced errors during the three-hour, 16-minute encounter. Khachanov, the Russian player of Armenian descent, completed the comeback with a 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory.

“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,” the ATP Tour website quoted Auger-Aliassime as saying. “I thought maybe it would pass, but it didn't.”

Khachanov entered New York after losing all three hard-court matches he had played since his third-round exit at Wimbledon in July. The 30-year-old was ranked No. 50 in the PIF ATP Rankings this week, having been a Top 10 player last year at the hard-court major.

Khachanov has now reached at least the third round at each of the four Grand Slam tournaments 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."

This marks the first time Khachanov has reached the third round at Flushing Meadows since his semi-final run in 2022. The seven-time tour-level titlist will next face either Peruvian Ignacio Buse or Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi.