World No.3 Alexander Zverev suffered a surprise early exit at the US Open 2025, falling to Canadian star Felix Auger-Aliassime in a dramatic four-set battle on Saturday.
The German, seeded third, looked strong after taking the opening set and even held a set point in the second. However, Auger-Aliassime fought back with resilience, sealing a 4-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-4, 6-4 victory in a match that lasted three hours and 48 minutes.
Zverev’s Struggles Continue at Grand Slams
The defeat marks Zverev’s earliest US Open exit since 2018, ending his streak of reaching at least the fourth round in New York for the past six years. It also follows his shock first-round loss at Wimbledon 2025, raising further questions about his Grand Slam consistency despite being ranked among the top three players in the world.
Zverev, who finished as the US Open runner-up in 2020, had entered the tournament as one of the favorites, but his inability to convert key points once again proved costly.
Auger-Aliassime Makes Breakthrough
For Felix Auger-Aliassime, this victory marks a significant milestone in his career. The 25-year-old Canadian, seeded 25th, defeated a top-five player at a Grand Slam for the very first time.
“This feels amazing. I’ve been coming here since 2018. I’m still young, but I’ve been working hard and this means a lot,” Auger-Aliassime said after the win. “The tournament is not over, the job’s not done, but I’ll take this moment.”
His best Grand Slam performance so far was reaching the semi-finals at the US Open 2021, and now he will face Russian 15th seed Andrey Rublev in the fourth round on Monday.
What’s Next?
With Zverev out, the men’s draw at Flushing Meadows opens up further, giving rising stars like Auger-Aliassime and established contenders like Rublev a clearer path. Fans can expect more high-intensity battles as the final Grand Slam of the year heats up.