US Open: Auger-Aliassime stuns De Minaur in tense US Open quarterfinal thriller
Felix Auger-Aliassime secured a hard-fought victory over Alex de Minaur on Wednesday, advancing to his second career Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open: 4-6, 7-6(7), 7-5, 7-6(4).
Félix Auger-Aliassime, US Open 2025 | © Zuma / PsNewz
In a match that was as much a test of mental fortitude as it was of tennis skill, Felix Auger-Aliassime, the 27th-ranked player in the world, secured a remarkable and hard-fought victory over No. 8 seed Alex de Minaur. The Canadian advanced to his second career Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open with a final score of 4-6, 7-6(7), 7-5, 7-6(4) after a grueling four hours and 10 minutes. The contest was an exercise in tension and nerves, a messy affair with both players visibly struggling under the weight of the moment, a fact testified to by the 11 double faults each player committed.
“It was a tense one, not always pretty,” Auger-Aliassime said in his post-match on-court interview. “There were nerves from both of us all the way through.” The Canadian, who reached the US Open semi-finals in 2021, acknowledged that the match felt “longer than four years ago.” He said that despite the win, he would have to be better in the semi-final against either Jannik Sinner or Lorenzo Musetti. “The biggest challenges are yet to come,” he added, “but that’s what I live for and I’ll be ready for my match on Friday.”
For de Minaur, the defeat prolongs his agonizing wait for a first major semi-final. The 26-year-old Australian, who came into the match with a 0-5 record in Grand Slam quarter-finals, had huge reasons for regret. He led by a set and a break at 6-4, 3-2, and had the match seemingly in his grasp in the fourth set, leading 5-2 and serving for a fifth set at 5-3.
Erratic games, erratic stats
However, the consistent “Demon” uncharacteristically faltered, allowing Auger-Aliassime to claw his way back. De Minaur, who had been leading the ATP Tour with 28 hard-court wins this season, was aiming to become the first Australian men’s semi-finalist at the US Open since Lleyton Hewitt in 2005.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions and erratic play. Both players were hyper-nervous, and it showed in the statistics. While Auger-Aliassime delivered a staggering 51 winners to de Minaur’s 29, he also committed 50 unforced errors to de Minaur’s 43. On serve, Auger-Aliassime was dominant on his first serve, winning an impressive 82% of those points, but he was a liability on his second, winning a mere 32%. In contrast, de Minaur was more stable on his serve, winning 77% of his first-serve points and 50% on his second. The two were deadlocked on break points won, with each converting four opportunities.
De Minaur left the court quickly
Auger-Aliassime’s path to the quarter-final was already a story of resurgence. He had previously upset world No. 3 Alexander Zverev and No. 15 Andrey Rublev on his way to the final eight, and his victory over de Minaur is his third Top 10 win at a Grand Slam. This deep run will see the 25-year-old Canadian return to the top 15 in the ATP rankings, a significant jump from his current No. 27, once a World number 6 in 2022.
The match’s fourth and final set perfectly encapsulated the drama. After de Minaur’s breakdown, the tiebreak was a microcosm of the entire contest. Both players traded mini-breaks, but it was Auger-Aliassime who held his nerve just a little bit better, converting his first match point with a powerful forehand that forced a long reply from de Minaur. For the Australian, who rushed off the court after the loss, it was a painful defeat. Auger-Aliassime leapt with joy, a picture of relief and triumph after a victory that was as much a mental battle as a physical one.
