Russian tennis player Karen Khachanov defeated world number four Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round of the US Open at Flushing Meadows.
The 30-year-old Russian, ranked 50th in the world, lost the opening set on a tie-break before battling back to secure a 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory in a match lasting three hours and 16 minutes.
Khachanov took control of the contest as the energy level of his Canadian opponent dropped noticeably after the opening set. After dropping the tie-break 7-5, the Russian claimed the next three sets comfortably to seal the win.
According to news website Sport-Express, Khachanov addressed the crowd during his on-court interview following the match. He said Auger-Aliassime may have experienced health issues during the contest, noting that physical setbacks are part of professional tennis.
Khachanov wished his rival a speedy recovery if he was dealing with an injury. He said he focused on staying competitive and playing his best tennis, adding that he was delighted with the victory.
Targeting progress at Flushing Meadows
The victory came after a difficult period for Khachanov leading into the final Grand Slam tournament of the season. He explained that the month preceding the tournament had gone poorly, prompting his team to conduct extensive training sessions ahead of New York.
Khachanov said he entered the US Open with a mindset focused on delivering strong performances and progressing through the draw step by step.
Tournament context and background
The result marks Khachanov's first win against a top-10 opponent in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings in 2026. It also seals his place in the third round of the US Open for the first time since 2022.
The US Open is the final Grand Slam tournament of the tennis calendar, held annually on hard courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows in Queens, New York. Auger-Aliassime entered the tournament as the world number four, while Khachanov entered unseeded at 50th in the world rankings.
Khachanov now advances to the third round of the US Open as he looks to continue his run in New York.
