Superb Auger-aliassime Ends Zverev's Bid For Elusive Major

Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime says nan value he produced to stun German 3rd seed Alexander Zverev successful nan US Open 4th information did not simply "fall retired of nan sky".

Auger-Aliassime's bold attacking attack paid disconnected arsenic he fought backmost to triumph 4-6 7-6 (9-7) 6-4 6-4 successful New York.

The 25-year-old had not antecedently beaten a top-five classed force successful 7 attempts astatine a awesome tournament.

But his crippled - booming serve, vicious groundstrokes and ultimate athleticism - knitted together to extremity Zverev's latest bid for an elusive Grand Slam title.

"In believe I felt for illustration I was doing things really well. Mentally, [I've had] much clarity successful my crippled and really I want to play," Auger-Aliassime said.

"A capacity for illustration this doesn't autumn retired of nan sky.

"But you ne'er cognize besides erstwhile you're going to play that level connected immoderate fixed day."

Many group successful nan crippled judge 28-year-old Zverev arsenic nan champion subordinate of caller generations without a awesome title to his name.

Identified arsenic a early prima successful his teenage years, erstwhile he followed his older relative Mischa astir nan ATP Tour, he has gone adjacent by reaching 3 awesome finals.

Despite his pedigree, he has not sewage complete nan statement - astir notably erstwhile he blew a two-set lead successful nan 2020 US Open final - and still appears to deficiency belief against nan very champion astatine nan business extremity of Grand Slam tournaments.

In a bid to lick nan issue, Zverev precocious enlisted nan thief of Toni Nadal - who coached his nephew Rafael to 16 of his 22 Grand Slam titles.

A travel to Nadal's academy successful Majorca followed Zverev's first-round exit astatine Wimbledon, wherever he opened up astir receiving psychological thief to get "out of nan hole" he was in.

Afterwards, Nadal told BBC Sport he tried to instil nan belief into Zverev that he could hit nan likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic if he faced them successful New York.

Instead it was Auger-Aliassime - who ironically was coached by Nadal betwixt 2021 and 2024 - who prolonged Zverev's hold for nan prize he desires.

Former world number six Auger-Aliassime faces Russian 15th seed Andrey Rublev successful nan 4th information connected Monday.