Third-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime became the highest seed to exit the U.S. Open as Karen Khachanov ousted the Canadian, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 on Thursday in the second round at Flushing Meadows, N.Y.
Khachanov, ranked as high as No. 8 in 2019, was winless (0-3) on hard courts this summer and unseeded for the final grand slam of the season. Now down to No. 50 in the current rankings, the 30-year old generated 20 break points and converted on seven to prevail in three hours, 20 minutes.
Khachanov took a 3-2 lead in the head-to-head series.
Auger-Aliassime had withdrawn from the National Bank Open in Toronto last month because of a back injury. He did reach the fourth round in Cincinnati, but did not appear to be moving well in the latter part of his final match at the event.
“I am not sure but maybe he had some physical issues and that is part of our sport,” Khachanov said in his on-court interview. “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. Fighting and I am super happy to get this win.”
The first set featured two breaks of serve apiece, but none in the final four games. With the tie-breaker tied at 5-5, Auger-Aliassime broke Khachanov, then captured the next point on-serve to take a 1-0 lead.
But Khachanov would break his foe in each of the Canadian’s first service game of the final three sets and ended up cruising to the victory.
He pounded 37 winners to 30 unforced errors, while Auger-Aliassime countered with 43 winners, but 47 unforced miscues.
Khachanov will face the winner of the Thursday match between 32nd-seeded Ignacio Buse of Peru and France’s Benjamin Bonzi.
–Field Level Media
