By Erik Gudris | Sunday, August 31, 2025
Photo credit: Robert Prange/Getty Images
Saturday night in New York ended with joy for Felix Auger-Aliassime and in disappointment for Alexander Zverev.
The No. 25 seed Auger-Aliassime of Canada completed the surprise 6-4, 6-7(7) 6-4, 6-4 upset of the No. 3 seed Zverev to the delight of most of the fans watching on Louis Armstrong Stadium to reach the US Open fourth round.
For “FAA” as he’s known by his nickname, he’s glad to be back in the second week of a Grand Slam.
For the 28-year-old Zverev, a former US Open finalist, his quest for an elusive first ever major title will have to wait until next year.
“This feels good, this feels good!” the 25-year-old Canadian said with a big smile after the match. “Obviously, job’s not done, tournament’s still going, but this means a lot to me.”
Though Zverev leads the overall head to head against the Canadian, Auger-Aliassime has now beaten Zverev in both their meetings at a Grand Slam.
Auger-Aliassime overcame a nervous start in the opening set that Zverev quickly capitalized on to eventually take it 6-4. Neither man could generate a break point in the second set and that soon led to a tiebreak. Later, up a mini-break, Zverev earned a set point at 6-4 when Auger-Aliassime floated a backhand return long.
Yet Auger-Aliassime recovered to eventually take the tiebreak and the second set to even with the German.
“I had a tough start, but then after, like a bit nervous, to be honest, even though I’ve faced these players in these situations. It was just a bit of nerves. Once that got away, I felt good. It’s nice because it just, yeah, it’s been a work in progress, and I feel like tonight everything came together very nicely, and all the things I’ve been working on have paid off tonight,” Auger-Aliassime said in his post-match press conference.
From there, the match became all about Auger-Aliassime aggressive play while Zverev struggled to counter the Canadian’s surge. For the match total, Auger-Aliassime hit 50 winners to just 29 from Zverev.
After taking the third set, Auger-Aliassime remained in control. In the seventh game of the fourth set, Auger-Aliassime hit back to back forehand winner to reach 0-40 on Zverev’s serve. He soon broke with help from another error from the German.
A few games later, Auger-Aliassime served out the four-set to the delight of the late night crowd on hand.
Auger-Aliassime, who reached the US Open semifinals in 2021, is hoping for another similar run this time around.
“I’ve been coming here since 2018. I’m still young, but it’s been a few years and I’m working my way (back). “It’s nice because it’s been a work in progress, and I feel like tonight everything came together very nicely, and all the things I’ve been working on have paid off tonight. It’s a great boost of confidence. You have to be patient and trust that, like, if you have clear intentions in your practice and when the match comes that results like this will come.”
For Zverev, it’s back to the drawing board in terms of his goal of winning a first-time major title. After losing in this year’s Australian Open final to Jannik Sinner, Zverev managed to reach the quarters of Roland-Garros, yet suffered a first round loss a few weeks later at Wimbledon.
Auger-Aliassime next faces No. 15 seed Andrey Rublev in the next round with a quarterfinal spot on the line. The winner of that match could face eighth-seeded Aussie Alex de Minaur for a place in the final four.
