Felix Auger-Aliassime was radiating joy at Arthur Ashe Stadium following his latest triumph in New York.
“This feels even more exhilarating than the first time,” he shared with the audience, basking in the post-victory glow.
The 25-year-old from Montreal has secured his place in the US Open quarterfinals for the second time, four years after making his debut as a 21-year-old on his rise to a career-high No. 6.
“This feels more earned,” noted Auger-Aliassime, now ranked No. 27 globally, during his on-court interview after achieving an impressive victory over 15th-seeded Andrey Rublev in straight sets. “I’m cherishing every moment here.”
And rightly so! After overcoming injuries and a dip in confidence over the past two seasons, Auger-Aliassime stands as the lowest-seeded player left in the men’s draw at No. 25.
He is set to face off against eighth-seeded Australian Alex de Minaur on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT back at Arthur Ashe.
Alongside his win over Rublev, the Canadian also defeated tournament No. 3 Alexander Zverev, ensuring his rise in the rankings to at least No. 18, climbing a minimum of nine spots.
Auger-Aliassime holds a 2-1 record against de Minaur, with his only setback occurring on clay last year; however, he hasn’t outperformed de Minaur since 2022. (He had also been 2-6 against Zverev and 1-7 against Rublev heading into the US Open, indicating the unpredictable nature of their matchups).
Since their last encounter, Auger-Aliassime has observed that the Aussie has significantly progressed.
“He’s developed the ability to take charge as soon as the opportunity arises and can move swiftly to punish you,” he explained shortly after defeating Rublev. “His game is now more well-rounded than it used to be.”
Auger-Aliassime shines when his forehand and serve are both steady and precise, which has played a key role in his success in New York. During his matchup with Rublev, he achieved 13 aces, landed 66% of his first serves, and struck 42 winners.
At the end of July, Auger-Aliassime faced an early exit in his home tournament, falling in straight sets to world No. 56 Fabian Marozsan. He described it as “disappointing” and “tough” to leave so soon at home, yet rebounded strongly at his next event, reaching the quarterfinals at an ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati last month before losing to world No. 1 and defending US Open champion Jannik Sinner.
Should he triumph over de Minaur, Auger-Aliassime could set up a rematch against Sinner, as the victor of their quarterfinal will face Sinner or fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti.
Wednesday marks the Canadian’s fourth Grand Slam quarterfinal, with his singular semifinal appearance at a major taking place at the 2021 US Open, where he was defeated in straight sets by Daniil Medvedev, the then-No. 2 seed.
“At 21, you sort of think, ‘Oh, this is just how it goes,’ and you don’t really question it, feeling like you’ll be in this position every year, and wonder, ‘Was it really that tough? I’m not sure,’” he laughed during the press conference post-match.
He’s gained a wealth of experience since then. This season started impressively for Auger-Aliassime, winning two ATP 250 events in January, but he faced setbacks, withdrawing from tournaments in February and May due to injuries. This makes his presence in the last eight at this Grand Slam feel all the more special.
A seven-time ATP Tour champion, Auger-Aliassime had not progressed past the Round of 64 in a major until now—securing just one win at the Australian Open, losing in the first round at the French Open, and getting eliminated in the second round at Wimbledon.
Now, he heads into the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows, as he aims to overcome de Minaur and notch a second Grand Slam semifinal appearance, ready to savor even more moments from his US Open journey.
