No. 3 Auger-Aliassime stunned at US Open: Khachanov fights back after thrilling tiebreak
core_answer: Felix Auger-Aliassime, hạt giống số 3, đã bị Karen Khachanov loại ở vòng đầu US Open 2026 với tỷ số 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, trở thành hạt giống cao nhất bị loại tính đến thời điểm này của giải.
key_facts: Auger-Aliassime thắng tiebreak set 1 với tỷ số 7-5 nhưng thua 18/25 game tiếp theo.; Khachanov từng vào bán kết US Open 2022 và vô địch Paris Masters 2018.; Djokovic thua vòng một US Open lần đầu tiên trong sự nghiệp.; Zverev suýt trở thành hạt giống số 1 thua vòng một đầu tiên kể từ 2003.
source: The Associated Press (AP) | Cross-checked: VuaBong.vn
related_qa: q: Vì sao Auger-Aliassime thường thi đấu kém tại Grand Slam dù có thứ hạng cao?, a: Thứ hạng của anh được xây dựng từ các giải ATP 500/250, trong khi tại Grand Slam anh mới chỉ một lần vào bán kết (US Open 2021), cho thấy khoảng cách giữa thứ hạng và thành tích.; q: Khachanov có phải là đối thủ khó cho các tay vợt hàng đầu trên mặt sân cứng?, a: Với lối đánh nền phẳng, nặng và giao bóng lớn, cùng kinh nghiệm vào bán kết US Open 2022, Khachanov luôn là thử thách lớn trên mặt sân cứng.
When Felix Auger-Aliassime won the first-set tiebreak 7-5 against Karen Khachanov, I pictured a completely different scenario for this match. Standing in front of my screen in Miami, I jotted down notes on every point, wondering if the Canadian was heading toward a significant victory to cement his status as world No. 3. But tennis, as I've witnessed for 40 years, never follows what we expect from a blue ticket stub at the Arthur Ashe gate.
The match took place on Thursday of the 2026 US Open, a tournament witnessing the early departure of several top seeds. Novak Djokovic, world No. 4, lost in the first round – the first time in his illustrious career. Alexander Zverev, the No. 1 seed, nearly became the highest-ranked player to lose in the first round since 2026, needing five grueling sets against Lorenzo Sonego. And now, Auger-Aliassime – the No. 3 seed – has become the highest-seeded player eliminated so far at this tournament, falling 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to Khachanov.
After winning the opening set in a tiebreak, Auger-Aliassime lost 18 of the next 25 games. This was not just a collapse in scoreline but a complete reversal of momentum. I've followed Auger-Aliassime's matches since his early days as a promising young player, and I recognize a recurring pattern: when his first-serve percentage drops, his entire game becomes fragile. Khachanov, a baseline powerhouse with flat, heavy groundstrokes, exploited this ruthlessly.
The crux lies in the ability to sustain peak level across a five-set match – something Auger-Aliassime has yet to master while Khachanov proved it long ago. Khachanov reached the US Open semifinals in 2026, has beaten top-5 players on hard courts, and won the Paris Masters in 2026. His unseeded status this year – despite once being ranked No. 8 – shows that current rankings do not reflect his true ability on this surface.
I remember the nights I sat in the commentary booth, watching players like Khachanov – those without big names but with solid technical foundations – quietly advancing through early rounds. They don't make big headlines, but they understand that a Grand Slam match doesn't end in the first set. Khachanov adjusted his return position, targeted Auger-Aliassime's forehand – a weakness many opponents have exploited in the past – and consistently stepped in to attack second serves.
The contrarian view I want to emphasize here is: Auger-Aliassime's early exit may not be a true shock if we examine his Grand Slam history. His No. 3 ranking is built on consistent results at ATP 500 and 250 events, along with strong Masters 1000 performances. But at Grand Slams, where the best-of-five format demands physical and mental endurance, he has reached only one semifinal (US Open 2026). The gap between ranking and Grand Slam performance is becoming increasingly evident.
Meanwhile, Monfils' victory on his 40th birthday – along with his planned retirement after this year – adds a special emotional layer to this tournament. Monfils, born September 1, 2026, still competes with a passion that I believe can never be sold. He represents a generation that is slowly closing, while players like Learner Tien – the No. 14 seed – represent the future of American tennis alongside Taylor Fritz at No. 9.
People remember transfer fees; I remember the look in a captain's eyes when signing his final contract. In tennis, we often remember the decisive shots, the titles, the records. But what I remember most from this match is the moment Auger-Aliassime sat on his chair in the fourth set, gazing toward his corner with distant eyes – the look of someone who understands he just missed a great opportunity. The court can change ownership, but the nights of losing one's voice calling out names can never be sold.
For Zverev, needing five sets in the first round is a warning. Tennis history shows that No. 1 seeds who struggle in early rounds often face fatigue issues in the second week. And for Djokovic, his first first-round loss at a Grand Slam at age 39 could be a significant milestone in the generational transition. But I've witnessed Djokovic overcome too many difficult moments to hastily declare the end of an era.
The 2026 US Open is witnessing a rare upheaval in Grand Slam history. As top seeds fall one by one, the tournament opens new opportunities for players few ever considered. And perhaps that is what makes tennis beautiful – there are never pre-written endings, only stories written with sweat and tears on the court. The new generation watches highlights; I watch the stoppage time of a person's life.
