Canada’s wait for a winner at the 2026 Australian Open continues. A day after Gabriel Diallo and Liam Draxl both went out in the first round of the season’s first major, Marina Stakusic and Félix Auger-Aliassime both had to retire in their opening matches on Monday, Sunday night in Canada.
Auger-Aliassime was forced to retire in his Australian Open first-round match against Nuno Borges on Sunday. The retirement occurred early in the fourth set with the Canadian No. 1 behind 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
The 25-year-old from Montreal was aggressive for a majority of the match, finishing with 26 winners and eight aces, each more than Borges’ tally. Auger-Aliassime appeared to be dealing with something late in the third, eventually dropping the set before he deemed himself unable to carry on in the contest. It is just the second time in seven appearances that the Canadian has not made the second round at the Australian Open.
Auger-Aliassime’s opening-set push began in the fourth game. The seventh seed coolly dealt with the nagging sun on the north end of John Cain Arena by firing two-straight aces at 1-2, 15-all, before another unreturned serve led to a comfortable hold. In the ensuing game, the Canadian converted on his third break point and was in the driver’s seat, up 3-2.
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There was no need for Auger-Aliassime to serve for the opener as the 25-year-old unleashed a backhand winner at 4-5, 15-30, to hold double break and set point, capitalizing on the first try. The reigning year-end No. 5 dropped just five points on his delivery in the first set.
In the second, it was Borges who struck first this time, holding his first break points of the day in the fifth game, one which was saved by Auger-Aliassime, but the Portuguese forced the loss of serve on the second attempt to lead 3-2. The Montrealer broke back but Borges still led 4-3 after capturing a second-straight break.
With double match point at 5-4, 40-15, the world No. 46 sealed the second and ensured that he has yet to lose an Australian Open match in straight sets.
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Auger-Aliassime was back at ease on serve in the third, dropping just four service points in as many games, though, Borges conceded half that over that same span. At 4-4, the Canuck appeared to not be moving as freely as he was throughout the match, which caused him to concede the set.
Unfortunately, only two points into the fourth, Auger-Aliassime’s injury proved to be too much as he was unable to continue.
Stakusic Cramps Late After Strong Start
Marina Stakusic is still seeking her first main-draw match win at a Slam. The 21-year-old suffered a brutal attack of leg cramps midway through the third set of her debut at the Australian Open and had to retire up against Australia’s Priscilla Hon.
The Canuck came racing out of the gate but Hon pulled off a hard reset after the first set, seizing control of the match and never allowing Stakusic to reassert herself. The Canadian did rally from a break down in the third before the cramps struck and Stakusic had to retire, falling to 0-2 in Grand Slam singles main draws in her career.
Having dominated the qualifying draw without dropping a set, Stakusic kept rolling into the main draw. In her very first return game, the Canuck teed off of a return to set up a 15-40 opening, where Hon gifted her the break with a double fault. That set the tone for an opening set she dominated. Stakusic was in control throughout and added a second break late, needing just 30 minutes to take it 6-1.
Hon completely flipped the script to start the second set. She came out hitting much better and was rewarded with a break in the Canadian’s opening service game to go up 2-0. The Aussie was doing a much better job of neutralizing Stakusic’s power and rode that one break to within a game of taking the set.
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At the business end of it, Hon started to get tight again and Stakusic managed to break as the Aussie served for it. However, she could not take advantage of the reprieve. The Aussie bounced back immediately with a strong return game and the Canadian cracked, double-faulting the third break-point point to send the match to a third set.
Like the previous two sets, there was a break in the second game with one player racing out to a 3-0 lead. It was Hon carrying the momentum over to the second set, converting her break point chance with a stabbing backhand that just cleared the net and dropped in for a winner.
Both women were having some difficulty physically late in the match. Stakusic had a medical timeout between sets while Hon had one after being broken in the fifth game. After holding for 3-3, Stakusic fell to the court with cramps in her legs. Even though she was able to continue playing, the Canadian could barely move and was not able to run down most shots. She even conceded a point to gift a game to Hon in order to get to the changeover where she could receive more treatment.
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Stakusic played one more game where she could hardly serve, let alone rally. After Hon broke to go up 5-3, the Canadian fell to the court again and that was it. She retired and needed to be taken off the court in a wheelchair.
It’s a busy day at Melbourne Park for the Canadians. Victoria Mboko, who is also making her Australian Open debut, and Denis Shapovalov will both kick off their campaigns later in the day, overnight in Canada.
The Davis Cup returns to Canada in February as Canada hosts Brazil in the Qualifiers First Round in Vancouver, Feb. 6-7 at UBC's Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. Tickets are on sale. Get yours now!
Feature Photo : Martin Sidorjak
