Felix Auger-aliassime Stuns No 3 Zverev To Return To Us Open Second Week

Felix Auger-Aliassime stormed into nan past 16 of nan US Open connected Saturday nighttime pinch a rousing comeback triumph complete world No 3 Alexander Zverev, knocking retired 1 of nan title favorites 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4, 6-4 connected Louis Armstrong Stadium.

The Canadian 25th seed had not reached nan 2nd week successful New York since his semi-final tally successful 2021 but summoned immoderate of nan champion tennis of his profession to unafraid a first expansive slam triumph complete a top-five opponent. The lucifer stretched to 3 hours and 48 minutes and vanished soon earlier midnight, delaying nan nighttime convention that followed.

“It feels really good,” said Auger-Aliassime. “I’m still young, but I’ve been moving astatine this for years. Some group whitethorn person been watching maine for nan first clip tonight, and to show that benignant of tennis connected this shape intends a lot. The tourney isn’t over, nan job’s not done, but nights for illustration these support maine going.”

Zverev, nan 2020 runner-up successful New York and a semi-finalist astatine nan Australian Open earlier this year, had looked successful afloat power aft breaking successful nan opening crippled and sealing nan first group pinch ease. But erstwhile Auger-Aliassime edged a gruelling second-set tiebreak, saved from nan brink by bold shotmaking and helped complete nan statement by a nett cord, momentum shifted decisively.

The German grew progressively agitated arsenic his groundstrokes misfired, slamming his racket aft conceding an early break successful nan 3rd set. Auger-Aliassime consolidated pinch clutch serving and forehand winners, keeping Zverev nether unit successful extended rallies. When nan Canadian collapsed to emotion midway done nan 4th set, Armstrong’s packed crowd sensed nan upset. He closed it retired connected serve, pumping his fist arsenic Zverev trudged disconnected to his earliest US Open exit since 2018.

For Auger-Aliassime, nan consequence was a tonic aft uneven seasons and recurring injuries. Once tipped arsenic a early champion, he admitted that belief has been tested. “I’ve had ups and downs,” he said. “But you support working, you support believing. Tonight shows what’s possible.”

Zverev, still chasing a first expansive slam crown astatine 28, leaves New York successful nan 3rd information for nan first clip successful 7 years. His summertime hard-court plaything has faltered aft a first-round conclusion astatine Wimbledon, contempt a beardown outpouring that included different tally to nan Roland Garros quarter-finals.

Auger-Aliassime advances to a fourth-round gathering pinch Russia’s Andrey Rublev, nan 15th seed, who earlier hit Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong Cameron Norrie successful 5 sets. Rublev has ne'er progressed beyond nan quarter-final shape astatine a awesome successful 10 tries, but has been accordant astatine this level, making nan 2nd week successful New York for nan sixth time.

Elsewhere successful nan men’s draw, Jannik Sinner, nan world No 1 and 1 of nan title favorites, swept past Canada’s Denis Shapovalov successful 4 sets to support his title push intact.

On nan women’s side, Iga Swiatek recovered from 5-1 down successful nan opening group to oust Anna Kalinskaya successful two, extending her unbeaten streak astatine nighttime sessions successful New York. The lucifer that followed connected Armstrong, Maria Sakkari against Beatriz Haddad Maia, did not statesman until 11.28pm because of nan Auger-Aliassime–Zverev marathon.

The schedule strain again highlighted nan ongoing statement complete late-night finishes astatine expansive slams. The US Open introduced a norm past twelvemonth allowing referees to displacement matches not begun by 11.15pm to extracurricular courts, but pinch Armstrong already heavy into play location was nary realistic option.