WHAT HAPPENED: It’s been four years in the making as Felix Auger-Aliassime has returned to the US Open semifinal line-up.
The Canadian grew from strength to strength in a grueling 4-6, 7-6(7), 7-5, 7-6(4) scoreline to deny Alex de Minaur across four hours and 10 minutes in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday at the 2025 US Open.
Auger-Aliassime, a 2021 US Open semifinalist, will shoot for a silverware showdown spot on Friday against the winner of the Italian derby between reigning champion Jannik Sinner or Lorenzo Musetti.
During the pre-match broadcast interview in the player’s tunnel, de Minaur suggested an “absolute battle” was about to unfold. The-green-and-gold charge hit the nail on the head.
The Australian utilizes a "Blue Wall" mentality for his defensive prowess and unwavering fighting spirit, which stems from his allegiance to the New South Wales Rugby League Blues team. It was that Blue Wall which denied Auger-Aliassime any inroads in the opener.
From a rally covered in vision, feel and creativity, the world No. 8 latched onto a drop shot, before scuttling back to reach an Auger-Aliassime lob. With a pendulum stroke, de Minaur scooped a spellbinding tweener lob. Point of the tournament contender right there.
Up a set and a break at 3-2, there was a sense the roadrunner de Minaur would sprint clear.
Not quite. Auger-Aliassime launched two slingshot forehands to erase the deficit and managed to haul the No. 8 seed into a tiebreak.
Down 4-2 in a passage of play dominated by the returner, the Canadian conjured up gutsy tennis, erasing set point to eventually level the clash by ripping an inside-out forehand.
87 minutes, that was an arduous, energy-zapping set.
The world No. 27 let 4-2 slip, only to rediscover his feel and composure with a world-class reaction volley. It became who could hold their nerve and Auger-Aliassime was bold and was rewarded with the set.
De Minaur with his Aussie grit, was never going to back down and a brace of balletic backhand volleys provided the formula to soar 3-1 into the ascendancy.
Auger-Aliassime, a former world No. 6, demonstrated his major potential to drag the Demon into another tiebreak.
Same brave, bold input, same outcome to cue the Auger-Aliassime celebrations.
WHAT IT MEANS: FAA called for the "trophy" side during the coin toss. Was that an early visualisation?
It certainly seems right now that Auger-Aliassime believes that he can be a Grand Slam contender.
That has been evident this fortnight at Flushing Meadows by downing Top 15 trio of Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev and de Minaur in a row for a semifinal ticket.
Back in 2021, as a 21-year-old breaking into the US Open semifinals, the Canadian was highly touted for major success.
He’s had to endure doubts, injuries, tough losses and all of that again in the past couple of seasons.
Aspirational for more for sure, however, back at the top table, back delivering at the latter stages of Grand Slams must mean everything.
"I think it was just a lot of nerves today during the whole match," Auger-Aliassime said. "It wasn't pretty at all times, but that's what Grand Slam matches are, some days you won't feel your best. I was willing to dig really deep and to do everything I can.
"It feels amazing. Four years ago, it feels like more, honestly, it was a tough couple of years, but it feels even better now to be back in the semifinals. It's been an amazing tournament to so far.
"It's not over, there's still some tennis to play. The biggest challenges are yet to come. That's what I live for, that's what I train for so I'm going to show up and be ready for my match on Friday."
MATCH POINT: The Zverev and de Minaur triumphs mean the world No. 27 has earned multiple Top 10 scalps at a Grand Slam for the very first time in his career.
The amiable Canadian is also just the third ATP player born since 2000 to achieve this feat, alongside defending champion Sinner and 2022 winner Carlos Alcaraz.
Welcome back to the big time, FAA.
