Karen Khachanov ripped up the script in New York, knocking out third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round of the US Open with a ruthless four-set comeback.
The unseeded Russian, 30, recovered from losing a tight opening set to overpower the two-time US Open finalist 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-2 6-2, turning a tense contest into a one-sided march to the finish.
Auger-Aliassime, who has reached the quarter-finals at both Wimbledon and Roland Garros this season, started like a man in control. He absorbed Khachanov’s early power, held firm under pressure, and edged a finely balanced first set in a tie-break, fending off the Russian’s heavy groundstrokes with sharp serving and measured aggression.
Then the match flipped.
The errors began to creep in from the Canadian’s racket. Routine balls flew long. Backhands that had been solid in the first set started to leak. Khachanov saw the opening and drove straight through it, hammering winners down the line and pinning Auger-Aliassime behind the baseline.
The pressure finally told in the second set as Khachanov broke serve, settled into a brutal rhythm, and never really let go. His forehand began to dictate, his serve grew more reliable, and the rallies tilted decisively in his favour. From 1-1 in sets, Auger-Aliassime’s resistance faded quickly.
The third and fourth sets followed a similar pattern: Khachanov on the front foot, Auger-Aliassime chasing. The Canadian’s unforced errors piled up, his movement looked increasingly laboured, and the scoreline—6-2, 6-2—reflected the gulf in momentum as much as in execution.
"Maybe he had some physical issues," Khachanov said afterwards. "It's part of our sport, it's part of tennis. I'm super happy to get this win."
Auger-Aliassime came into New York with question marks over his fitness after withdrawing from the Rogers Cup in Montreal in August with a back injury. Against Khachanov, any lingering physical concern blended with a technical unraveling under sustained pressure.
His departure continues a chaotic start to the tournament at the top end of the draw, coming hot on the heels of 24-time Grand Slam champion and fourth seed Novak Djokovic’s shock first-round exit.
Khachanov, unseeded but unflinching, now walks into that vacuum with a statement win and the kind of swagger that can turn a fortnight in New York into something far bigger.
