Canada’s Félix Auger-Aliassime defeats Alex de Minaur in a four-hour battle to reach the U.S. Open semifinals, boosting his world ranking.
A Breakthrough Victory in New York
Canadian star Félix Auger-Aliassime advanced to the U.S. Open semifinals on Wednesday after a grueling four-set victory over Australia’s Alex de Minaur. The 25th seed from Montreal battled through errors and fatigue to defeat the world No. 8 by scores of 4-6, 7-6 (7), 7-5, 7-6 (4) in a match lasting four hours and 10 minutes at Flushing Meadows.
Why This Win Matters
For Auger-Aliassime, this marks his first semifinal appearance at a Grand Slam since the 2021 U.S. Open — exactly four years ago. The Canadian entered the tournament ranked No. 27 but is projected to climb to 13th, his highest ATP standing in more than two years. The win also gives him three victories over top-15 opponents in this tournament, including Alexander Zverev and Andrey Rublev.
How the Match Unfolded
The marathon clash was far from flawless. Both players recorded 11 double faults, and errors piled up on key points. However, Auger-Aliassime countered with 22 aces and rallied from deficits in both the second and fourth sets, showing resilience under pressure. He credited advice from Rafael Nadal, who once told him the key to greatness was finding ways to win even on off days.
What’s Next for the Canadian
Auger-Aliassime now awaits the winner of the quarterfinal between Italians Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti. A victory in the semifinal would propel him into his first career Grand Slam final and cap a remarkable resurgence after dropping out of the top 30 in 2024.
Canadian Success in Doubles
It was also a strong day for Canadian tennis in doubles. Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski and partner Erin Routliffe of New Zealand defeated Italy’s Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani 6-4, 6-3 to reach Friday’s U.S. Open women’s doubles final. The third-seeded duo will face top seeds Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova for the championship. Dabrowski and Routliffe previously won the U.S. Open doubles crown in 2023.
Wider Tournament Highlights
Elsewhere in New York, American Amanda Anisimova upset world No. 1 Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-3 in a women’s quarterfinal showdown, avenging her Wimbledon loss earlier this summer. The women’s semifinals on Thursday will feature defending champion Aryna Sabalenka against Jessica Pegula, a rematch of last year’s final.
© 2025 Mapple News Wire
