WHAT HAPPENED: Felix Auger-Aliassime excelled as the frontrunner to return to the US Open quarterfinals for the first time in four years.
The Canadian, a semifinalist at Flushing Meadows in 2021, defied a 1-7 head-to-head record facing Andrey Rublev to turn the tables, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4, in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
On a sun-kissed Labor Day, there was nothing laborious about No.15 seed Rublev’s start. With his trademark "bweh" grunt, Rublev rattled a crunching backhand down the line and smoked an inside out forehand winner to spark a 4-2 lead.
However, Auger-Aliassime scurried right and in one motion lunged, clipping a forehand cross court away from the reach of Rublev. It was a sign the flow had flipped sides.
By 6-5 ,"FAA" overtwisted on a few forehands during a trio of chances to snatch away the set. A rocket forehand return winner chalked up a fourth chance and the Canadian had a deserved advantage.
The prolonged rallies, smart volleys, there were plenty of entertaining tug of war rallies.
It was Auger-Aliassime making the significant strides again.
Consecutive double faults opened the door for the world No.27, who ramped up the pressure with monstrous hitting and depth for a significant break.
Restricting someone of Rublev’s talent to just four winners and six unforced errors in a set paints the picture, Auger Aliassime was acting as the on-court bully.
Rublev had an opportunity to erase a 2-1 deficit in the third set. Up stepped Auger-Aliassime to drive a bullet backhand down the line. It was emphatic and it signalled that there was zero chance FAA would let this slip.
WHAT IT MEANS: There was a time when Auger-Aliassime booked a quarterfinal ticket at three successive Grand Slams at 2021 Wimbledon, 2021 US Open and 2022 Australian Open. Reaching a fourth means the 25-year-old will be the first Canadian man to contest in multiple US Open last-eight encounters.
Back in 2022 he was riding at a career-high world No.6, compiling a career-best 60 match wins.
During that astonishing season, Auger-Aliassime led the men’s tour with 45 hard court victories, highlighted by statement triumphs over then No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and all-time greats Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal.
Three years of undulating form and fitness later, FAA is a force to be reckoned with once again.
The No. 25 seed’s progress past world No. 3 Alexander Zverev in Round 3 was a statement win. Add in the Rublev dismissal on Monday and Auger-Aliassime has recorded multiple Top 20 victories in the same Grand Slam for the first time in his career.
He’s always had the tools to be a major contender. Is Felix 2.0 the answer?
Next up, a free-hitting FAA has to overcome the Australian roadrunner Alex de Minaur in the quarterfinals to match his 2021 US Open exploits.
“It’s my first time playing in Arthur Ashe (Stadium) in a few years, it feels even better than the first time in 2021,” said the Canadian.
“Back then I was on my way up, then I had a few setbacks, injuries, struggles with confidence. To come back to the quarterfinals here, feels much better, feels more deserved and I’m soaking in every moment here.”
He was 2-6 versus Zverev and then 1-7 versus Rublev before these head-turning wins.
“I think I’ve played good in the past against them. I guess to keep my cool, to be more calm and poised to finish the match. I think that was the key,” added Auger-Aliassime, who uses meditation to mentally prepare for matches.
“It has always been a battle with Andrey, sometimes I would be up like I was here, serving out the match and he would still come back. It was very important for me to stay ahead and keep putting on pressure to the very last point.”
MATCH POINT: A decade ago, Auger-Aliassime teamed up with compatriot Denis Shapovalov to lift the 2015 US Open boy’s doubles trophy, following a victory over the USA duo of Brandon Holt and Riley Smith.
The next trip to Flushing Meadows, Auger-Aliassime defeated top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the 2016 US Open boys’ singles semifinals, before brushing aside Miomir Kecmanovic, 6-3, 6-0, for junior Grand Slam glory.
