Karen Khachanov Upsets No. 3 Seed Felix Auger-Aliassime to Reach US Open Third Round

Felix Auger-Aliassime stood on Louis Armstrong Stadium dizzy, seeing spots, and physically unable to execute his game. Karen Khachanov stood across the net executing a relentless, physical baseline assault that broke the Canadian's serve seven times. The result of that collision on Thursday was a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 upset that sent the No. 3 seed out of the US Open and propelled the unseeded Russian into the third round. The match immediately altered the landscape of the men's draw, removing one of the tournament's heavy favorites in the opening week.[1][2][3][4]

The match turned sharply after a grueling opening set that initially went according to script. Auger-Aliassime raced to an early 3-0 lead and eventually edged out a tiebreaker, but the effort appeared to empty his physical reserves. By the middle of the second set, the 2025 semifinalist began to visibly fade, ultimately committing 47 unforced errors and eight double faults over the three-hour, 20-minute contest. His movement slowed, and his groundstrokes lost their characteristic depth and penetration.[1][4]

Khachanov, currently ranked No. 50 and winless on hard courts during the summer swing, seized the opening with ruthless efficiency. He pounded 37 winners against just 30 unforced errors, generating 20 break points and converting seven of them. Whenever Auger-Aliassime tried to shorten points by rushing the net or going for low-percentage shots, Khachanov responded with blistering backhand passing shots down the line, keeping the Canadian pinned behind the baseline and forcing him to play exactly the kind of grueling points his body could no longer sustain.[1][2]

The contrast in post-match assessments highlighted the dual nature of the upset. Auger-Aliassime pointed directly to his physical collapse, stating he felt fine before the match but was suddenly overcome by dizziness that refused to pass. 'I cannot beat him or anybody in this draw feeling the way I felt today,' the Canadian said, adding that he plans to undergo medical testing to determine the root cause of the sudden illness. He emphasized that the physical limitations made it impossible to evaluate the tennis itself.[1]

Khachanov acknowledged his opponent's struggles but kept the focus on his own execution and resilience during the pivotal moments. 'I thought maybe he had some physical issues, it's part of our sport,' Khachanov said during his on-court interview. 'I tried to give my best performance, fighting, fighting. I'm super happy to get this win.' The Russian maintained his concentration even as the match devolved into a lopsided affair, ensuring he did not let a compromised opponent back into the contest.[1][4]

The defeat adds to a deeply frustrating Grand Slam season for Auger-Aliassime, who has struggled to find consistency on the game's biggest stages. He retired in the first round of the Australian Open and exited in the quarterfinals at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon. He recently withdrew from the National Bank Open in Toronto due to a back injury and parted ways with his long-time coach, Frederic Fontang, in July, leaving him searching for answers as the season enters its final stretch.[1]

For Khachanov, the victory represents a massive momentum shift and a return to form. A fixture in the latter stages of majors who reached the US Open semifinals in 2022, he entered New York at his lowest ranking since 2017. He will next face the winner of the match between France's Benjamin Bonzi and Peru's Ignacio Buse, suddenly finding himself with a clear path in a wide-open section of the draw and an opportunity to salvage his hard-court season.[1][2]

The upset also continues a chaotic opening week in the men's bracket, which has seen several top contenders struggle to survive the early rounds. Auger-Aliassime's departure follows the first-round exit of fourth-seeded Novak Djokovic, leaving the top half of the draw significantly depleted as the tournament heads toward the weekend. With the bracket opening up, unseeded players like Khachanov are now positioned to make deep runs into the second week. The shifting landscape guarantees that at least one unexpected name will emerge from this quarter, fundamentally altering the stakes for the remaining competitors.[1]