Fired-up Felix Auger-Aliassime returns to US Open semi-finals, inflicts more major pain on Alex de Minaur

ATP Tour

Auger-Aliassime returns to US Open SFs, inflicts more major pain on De Minaur

Canadian awaits Sinner or Musetti in second major semi-final

Ishika Samant/Getty Images Felix Auger-Aliassime is up to 10th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. By Jerome Coombe

Four years after reaching his first major semi-final at the US Open in 2021, Felix Auger-Aliassime is once again into the last four in New York, this time thanks to an inspired comeback against eighth seed Alex de Minaur on Wednesday afternoon.

On the verge of falling two sets back, the free-hitting Canadian won an absorbing 85-minute second set to draw level, then held his nerve under pressure to claim a gritty 4-6, 7-6(7), 7-5, 7-6(4) victory after four hours, 10 minutes. Awaiting Auger-Aliassime in his second major semi-final is either defending champion Jannik Sinner or Lorenzo Musetti, while De Minaur slips to 0-6 in Grand Slam quarter-finals.

“It was just a lot of nerves today during the whole match, it wasn’t pretty at all times, but that’s what Grand Slam matches are,” said Auger-Aliassime in his on-court interview. “Somedays you won’t feel your best but I was willing to dig deep and do everything I can to stand here right now.

“It feels amazing. Four years ago… It feels like more. It was a tough couple of years but it feels great to be back in the semi-finals. It’s been an amazing tournament so far. It’s not over, there’s some tennis to play and the biggest challenges are yet to come, but that’s what I live for.”

FELIX FACES THE SEMI-FINALS ONCE MORE 🤩

Four years later, Auger-Aliassime returns to the @usopen SF's 🙌

#USOpen pic.twitter.com/T9UC9NSOu5 — ATP Tour (@atptour) September 3, 2025

Auger-Aliassime had raised hopes of a Nitto ATP Finals berth by winning titles in Adelaide and Montpellier through the opening two months of the year and, after a mid-season struggle, he has thrust himself firmly back into the conversation. With his deep run in New York, which includes a third-round win over third seed Alexander Zverev, Auger-Aliassime is up eight spots to 10th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin.

Both players hit two double faults in a nervy fourth-set tie-break, but it was ultimately Auger-Aliassime who held firm in the dying embers to join Milos Raonic (3) as the only Canadian men to reach multiple semi-finals at this level.

Despite leaving New York with a Tour-leading 28 wins on hard courts in 2025, De Minaur is still searching for answers in his bid to cross the line in a major quarter-final. He has fallen at this stage on six occasions, including twice this year at the Australian Open and US Open.

He is nonetheless up one spot to seventh in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin with a 41-16 record on the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

Auger-Aliassime capped an arduous second set by saving a set point to edge De Minaur in a dramatic tie-break. At 7/7, the Canadian pushed back a forehand return that skidded off the back edge of the baseline, forcing the error from De Minaur, who glanced at his team with a wry smile before his opponent steadied to close out a pulsating set.

During the first two sets, De Minaur put his knack for wriggling out of danger on full display. He even chased down a lob and produced a dazzling ‘tweener in the second set that landed smack on the line over Auger-Aliassime, drawing the error and electrifying the crowd inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

However, after squandering a break advantage in the second, the Australian’s precision began to unravel, and Auger-Aliassime pounced. The 25-year-old, who improved to 13-4 in US Open tie-breaks, rallied from a break down in the fourth set and his first-strike brand of tennis helped him across the line as he improved to 3-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with De Minaur.

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