Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov Shine at the US Open
What a day it was for Canadian tennis at the US Open in New York. Félix Auger-Aliassime, after three long years without clearing the first round in this tournament, finally broke through again. Facing the British qualifier Billy Harris, who is ranked outside the top 100 at age 30, Félix had to work hard but came out victorious in straight sets: 6-4, 7-6(8), 6-4. The match lasted just under three hours, nearly three hours of intense rallies and mental battles.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing. In the second set, Harris had the upper hand for a while, even leading 5-3, and then holding a set point at 8-7 in the tiebreak. But at that crucial moment, mistakes piled up on Harris’ side. Félix seized the opportunity, stayed steady, and managed to turn the momentum. From there, it felt like he found just enough of that balance between aggression and patience to close the door. He fired nine aces, landed 75% of his points on first serve, and produced 33 winners. At the same time, he also made 45 unforced errors—proof that it wasn’t perfect, but still enough to win. The key? Converting five of eight break point chances.
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The last time Félix reached the second round in New York was back in 2022. For someone who once reached the semifinals here in 2021, it had been a frustrating drought. But with the crowd on Court 17 fully behind him, he raised his fist and let out a roar of relief. The atmosphere was described as “electric,” and it felt like a long-awaited homecoming for him on this stage. He now moves on to face either the veteran Frenchman Gaël Monfils or the Russian Roman Safiullin in the second round.
Meanwhile, Denis Shapovalov, his compatriot, was in no mood for a drawn-out battle. The Ontarian made quick work of Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics, cruising to a 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 win. Shapovalov looked sharp from the baseline and didn’t let the windy conditions shake him. The turning point came in the second set: once he went up two sets to love, the stats were clear—Shapovalov has never lost a Grand Slam match after leading by two sets. That streak continued, especially as Fucsovics began struggling with back pain in the third set. Despite medical attention, the Hungarian was visibly hampered, and Shapovalov closed it out in ruthless fashion.
The win sets up a second-round clash for Shapovalov against France’s Valentin Royer, ranked just inside the top 100. For Denis, this was not only a statement of form but also a reminder of how dangerous he can be when his game flows freely. He finished with eight aces, 28 winners, and a remarkable eight breaks of serve out of eleven opportunities.
So, with both Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov advancing, Canadian hopes are alive and well in New York. Add to that Gabriel Diallo’s hard-fought victory and Leylah Fernandez’s upcoming match, and it’s clear that Canada is once again making noise on the Grand Slam stage. The US Open, the final major of the year, is just beginning, but already, the storylines are rich, and the momentum is on the Canadian side.
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