Alexander Zverev Exits US Open After Defeat to Felix Auger-Aliassime

Zverev's Surprising Exit from the US Open

In a stunning turn of events, third seed Alexander Zverev has been knocked out of the US Open, losing in the third round to Canada's 25th seed, Felix Auger-Aliassime. The German player, who was the runner-up in the 2020 US Open, began the match strongly, winning the first set and even holding a set point in the second. However, Auger-Aliassime maintained his composure during a tense tie-break, ultimately reversing the match's momentum to win 4-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-4, 6-4 after nearly four hours of play.

Following his victory, Auger-Aliassime expressed his excitement, stating, "This feels good. I’ve been coming here since 2018. I’m still young, it’s been a few years but I’m working my way." He acknowledged the significance of the win, saying, "The tournament’s still going, the job’s not done but this means a lot to me."

This defeat marks a significant disappointment for Zverev, who had consistently reached the second week at Flushing Meadows since 2018. It also follows a disappointing performance at Wimbledon last month, where he exited in the first round, marking his earliest Grand Slam exit in six years.

For Auger-Aliassime, this victory is a strong statement as he aims for his first Grand Slam title. His previous best performance at a major was reaching the semi-finals in 2021 at the US Open. He is now set to face 15th-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev in a crucial fourth-round match on Monday.