Khachanov Stuns Auger-Aliassime in US Open Upset

Karen Khachanov ripped up the script in New York, sending third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime out of the US Open in the second round and adding another heavyweight name to an already chaotic men’s draw.

The unseeded Russian recovered from a set down to win 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-2 6-2, overpowering a fading Auger-Aliassime under the lights and questions over the Canadian’s fitness.

Auger-Aliassime, a two-time finalist at Flushing Meadows, edged a tight first set, clinging on in the tie-break as his serve bailed him out at key moments. He looked composed, measured, like a top seed doing just enough.

Then the match flipped.

Khachanov began to bully the rallies, stepping inside the baseline and unloading down-the-line winners that carved open the court. Auger-Aliassime’s level sagged, the unforced errors piling up as his opponent’s confidence surged.

The Russian broke once in the second set and never looked back. The pressure told on the Canadian’s forehand, which began to spray, while Khachanov’s timing only sharpened. What started as a contest between a favourite and a dangerous floater turned into a one-sided assault.

By the third set, Khachanov was in full flow. He dominated on return, repeatedly pinning Auger-Aliassime deep and finishing points with those flat, brutal strikes up the line. The Canadian, who reached the quarter-finals at both Wimbledon and Roland Garros this year, struggled to find any foothold. The scoreboard raced away from him: 6-2, 6-2, the upset sealed with authority.

Auger-Aliassime came into the tournament with a question mark hanging over his back, having withdrawn from the Rogers Cup in Montreal in August with an injury. As the match wore on, his movement dulled and his intensity dipped, hinting that the problem may not be fully behind him.

“Maybe he had some physical issues,” Khachanov, 30, said afterwards. “It’s part of our sport, it’s part of tennis. I’m super happy to get this win.”

His victory lands another heavy blow to the top of the draw. Auger-Aliassime’s exit follows that of 24-time Grand Slam champion and fourth seed Novak Djokovic, who crashed out in the first round. Two of the top four seeds gone before the third round. Suddenly, the US Open has a very different feel.

For Khachanov, this is a statement win. For the field, it’s a warning. With the favourites tumbling and the draw cracking wide open, who dares to take control of this unruly tournament now?