Félix Auger-Aliassime, seeded second and ranked No. 5 globally, was eliminated from the China Open in Beijing after a one-sided loss to Karen Khachanov on Wednesday. Khachanov, ranked No. 27, defeated the Canadian 6-3, 6-3 in the first round, dispatching the match in just one hour and 12 minutes, according to La Presse.
How did Khachanov control the match?
Khachanov broke Auger-Aliassime's serve three times in four opportunities and never faced a break point himself. Auger-Aliassime struck nine aces and 16 winners but committed 25 unforced errors compared to only nine from Khachanov, who dictated play throughout the encounter.
Is this a pattern between the two players?
This was the second consecutive loss to Khachanov for Auger-Aliassime in September. Earlier in the month, the Russian defeated the Canadian in four sets in the second round of the US Open, then advanced to the semi-final before losing to eventual champion Alexander Zverev.
What comes next for Auger-Aliassime?
Auger-Aliassime secured his place in the Davis Cup Finals, which take place in Bologna, Italy, from November 24 to 29, after leading Canada to a 3-1 victory over France in Quebec 10 days prior to the China Open loss.
Sources
- La Presse: Omnium de Chine Félix Auger-Aliassime se fait sèchement montrer la sortie. Published 2026-09-30.
Reported from public sources.