Khachanov stuns No. 3 Auger-Aliassime at US Open 2024 second round
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Karen Khachanov, ranked World No. 50, pulled off one of the standout upsets of the US Open 2024 at Flushing Meadows, New York, defeating third seed and former semifinalist Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round on Thursday. The Russian came back from a first-set tie-break loss to win 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 at the Louis Armstrong Stadium, claiming his first Top 10 victory of the season.
How Khachanov Turned the Match Around
After dropping the opening set in a tie-break, Khachanov shifted gears decisively, outplaying the Canadian from the baseline across the next three sets. The match lasted three hours and 16 minutes, with Auger-Aliassime visibly fading after losing the second set.
The Canadian struggled with consistency throughout, spraying 47 unforced errors and winning just 41 per cent of points on his second serve — a figure that proved costly against a disciplined Khachanov. The Russian now leads their head-to-head series 3-2.
Khachanov's Difficult Season in Context
The win carries added significance given Khachanov's form coming into the tournament. The 30-year-old had lost all three hard-court matches he played after a third-round exit at Wimbledon in July, and entered the week sitting at No. 50 in the PIF ATP Rankings — a sharp drop from inside the Top 10 he occupied at last year's hard-court major. His record on the year stood at 18-18 heading into the match.
Despite the inconsistent season, Khachanov has now reached at least the third round at all four Grand Slams in 2024 — a benchmark of sustained major-tournament competitiveness. It is also his deepest run at Flushing Meadows since his 2022 semifinal appearance at the same venue.
What Khachanov Said After the Win
'I am not sure, but maybe he had some physical issues, and that is part of our sport,' Khachanov said in his on-court interview. 'I wish him to feel better and have a speedy recovery if he is injured. I don't know. What I can say from my side is I tried to give my best performance. Fighting, and I am super happy to get this win.'
He added: 'The last month didn't go well for me, so we have been practising, and I am sure I am fit. The last tournament of the American swing, with the US Open, coming with the mindset to perform well and to try to take one step at a time.'
Auger-Aliassime's Missed Milestone and Rankings Fallout
The defeat is a significant setback for Felix Auger-Aliassime, who had reached the US Open semifinals 12 months ago and was chasing his 50th Grand Slam match win — a feat that would have placed him alongside compatriots Denis Shapovalov and Milos Raonic as just the third Canadian man to reach that mark.
The 26-year-old had shown good form earlier in the season, reaching the quarterfinals at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, including a fifth-set tie-break loss to Novak Djokovic at SW19. His early exit here is expected to result in a ranking drop, given the points he accumulated from last year's deep run.
What's Next for Khachanov
The seven-time tour-level titlist advances to the third round, where he will face either Peruvian star Ignacio Buse or Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi. A run deep into the second week would go a long way toward restoring his ranking and momentum heading into the indoor hard-court season.