In a grueling four-hour epic at Flushing Meadows, 25-year-old Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime powered past eighth seed Alex de Minaur to claim his spot in the US Open semi-finals for the second time. The match ended 4-6, 7-6(9/7), 7-5, 7-6(7/4), under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Auger-Aliassime faced an early setback, dropping the first set 4-6 as De Minaur's blistering groundstrokes kept him on the back foot. But the Canadian dug deep in the second-set tiebreak, edging it 9-7, and carried that momentum into a tight third set that he clinched 7-5.
The fourth set brought another pressure cooker: both players held serve through 11 games before Auger-Aliassime seized a crucial break, then sealed the match with a 7-4 tiebreak victory. The clash lasted over four hours, testing their stamina and mental grit.
After the win, Auger-Aliassime reflected, 'Some days you won't feel your best, but I was willing to dig really deep and do everything I can. It feels amazing. Four years ago, it feels like more. It was a tough couple of years, but it feels even better now to be in the semi-finals.'
For Australia's Alex de Minaur, this marked his sixth Grand Slam quarter-final defeat, continuing his search for a breakthrough at tennis's biggest stages. Looking ahead, Auger-Aliassime will turn his focus to the semis, aiming to translate this momentum into a maiden Grand Slam final.
Reference(s):
Auger-Aliassime battles through four sets to reach 2nd US Open semis
cgtn.com
