Félix Auger-Aliassime bounced back from a difficult first set to upset third-seeded Alexander Zverev 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the fourth round at the US Open.
It was Auger-Aliassime’s first-career Grand Slam win over a top-five player. The 25th seed now moves on to the round of 16 to take on 15th-seeded Andrey Rublev.
The German got off to a quick start on Saturday evening, breaking Auger-Aliassime to open the match as the Canadian struggled with four unforced errors, including two double faults, in the opening game. The Montrealer would momentarily settle his nerves and get back on serve in short order, earning his first break of the match to even the first set at 2-2.
Auger-Aliassime was the aggressor early, but the world No. 3 had his return game working as he played excellent defence at the baseline and forced another break to go up 4-2. He would eventually clinch the first set 6-4. It was a set defined by mistakes from Auger-Aliassime, who committed 10 unforced errors, three double faults and won just 64 per cent of his first-serve points as he was broken twice.
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The 25-year-old Canadian found his service game in the second set. Despite making just 44 per cent of his first serves, he played well on his second, conceding just three points to Zverev over his first three service games of the set to go up 3-2. Auger-Aliassime continued to push the pace in the second but was able to limit the mistakes that had plagued him in the opening set.
Neither player faced a break point in the set, as a tiebreaker would be needed to determine the second. Facing the prospect of going down two sets, the Canadian would fight off a Zverev set point to earn a pair of his own. He would claim the second set when his backhand bounced off the top of the net and over the racquet of a hard-charging Zverev, much to the delight of the crowd in Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Auger-Aliassime would open the third set by breaking Zverev for the second time in the match. In between games, the German appeared to be dealing with an injury, as he was seen grimacing and stretching out his leg. The Canadian would take advantage and gain full control of the third set following the break, uncorking a series of jaw-dropping winners that brought the crowd in Flushing Meadows to its feet. Auger-Aliassime would send the crowd into a frenzy when he held at love to take the third set 6-4.
The fourth set began much like the second, with both men holding strong on serve without a break point opportunity. Auger-Aliassime found another gear with the set tied 3-3, capitalizing on a triple break point to go up a break late in the set. He would cap one of the biggest wins in his career on serve, crushing two more forehand winners to seal the set and the match.
The 27th-ranked Canadian fired 50 winners and was dominant at the net, winning 89 per cent of his net points in the four-set victory.
Auger-Aliassime will face another tough test against Rublev in the next round, who holds a 7-1 advantage head-to-head over the Canadian, including a pair of wins this season in Hamburg and Doha.
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-Jonathan Chan
Shapovalov Falls Short of Upset Win over Sinner
A second-straight day with a Canadian going up against a world No. 1, Denis Shapovalov was unable complete the upset over reigning champion Jannik Sinner, losing 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in the US Open third round on Saturday.
This was Shapovalov’s first meeting against Sinner since the 2021 Australian Open first round, when the Richmond Hillian defeated the Italian in five sets.
Shapovalov showed glimpses of scoring the shock win, managing two breaks to take the opening set and leading 3-0 in the third. But the unforced errors began to pile up for the Canadian as he finished the match with 47.
It took until the fourth game for either player to drop a point on serve. That’s when Shapovalov held a break point at 30-40 and fired a forehand winner to break the four-time major winner for the first time in this tournament. The Canadian then held and shot out to a 4-1 lead.
Shapovalov dropped just three service points en route to his chance to serve out the set at 5-3. However, Sinner capped off a tremendous 30-shot rally at 15-30 with a lob to hold double break point, which the Italian capitalized on first try.
Sinner held to even things at five a piece but, at 5-6, 30-40, Shapovalov had his chance to take the set. Under pressure, the world No. 1 committed his fourth double fault as the Canadian No. 2 took the opener.
Shapovalov carried some of that great service form into the second set, winning 88 per cent of his first-serve points and adding three aces to his tally through his first three service games.
But, in the seventh game, a double fault and a trio of unforced errors from the Canadian handed Sinner the break. A hold later, the Italian found himself leading 5-3.
Serving for the set at 5-4, Sinner cruised to a love hold to even the match.
Shapovalov responded with an early break in the ensuing set and eventually led 3-0 in about ten minutes.
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After a broken shoelace and change of shoes, Sinner’s deficit turned into him winning nine-straight games to take the third set and lead 3-0 in the fourth as the Italian was well within reach of the round of 16.
At 1-4, 30-all, Shapovalov shanked a forehand which opened the chance for Sinner to serve out the match but the Canadian saved break point to hold.
With the defending champion later serving for the match at 5-3, Shapovalov showed a glimmer of hope to stay alive, holding a break point at 30-40, but Sinner won three-straight points to extend his hard-court Grand Slam win streak to 24.
Shapovalov’s third round finish was his best result at a major this year.
- Francesco Tosini
Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak
