Auger-Aliassime into first slam semi-final as Alcaraz retires with adductor injury
The Canadian was leading 6-3, 3-1 when 18-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz called it quits in their US Open quarter-final
Felix Auger-Aliassime, ready to roar.
- What happened: Carlos Alcaraz retired in the second set of his quarter-final match against Felix Auger-Aliassime
- You will also learn: Alcaraz did not take an official medical timeout but later cited an adductor problem
- Why you should read this: Auger-Aliassime will play No 2 seed Daniil Medvedev in his first slam semi-final
The 2021 US Open has been all about dramatic matches. Unfortunately for the fans at Tuesday’s night session, they were treated to nothing of the sort.
Following Aryna Sabalenka’s 6-1, 6-4 rout of an exhausted Barbora Krejcikova, the eagerly-anticipated men’s quarter-final match did not even last two full sets. Felix Auger-Aliassime was leading Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 3-1 when the 18-year-old Spaniard retired due to what he later said was an adductor injury.
Alcaraz briefly met with the trainer at the 2-1 changeover of the second set, but he did not take a medical timeout. The conversation lasted only as long as a normal changeover. The world No 55 did not seem to be in too much distress, but nonetheless he called it quits after his opponent held for 3-1.
This is Auger-Aliassime’s first trip to a Grand Slam semi-final. His previous best was a quarter-final at Wimbledon a couple of months ago.
Medvedev awaits Auger-Aliassime in semi-finals
Auger-Aliassime’s reward for his surprisingly short day at the office is a semi-final showdown against world No 2 and 2019 US Open runner-up Daniil Medvedev. This is the third consecutive trip to the last four in New York for Medvedev, who held off Dutch qualifier Botic Van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-0, 5-7, 6-4 earlier on Tuesday.
