Félix Auger-Aliassime defeated Rinky Hijiata 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in his opening match at the U.S. Open on Monday night, advancing to the second round despite a 55-minute rain delay between the second and third sets. The Montreal player, seeded third in the men's draw, completed the match in three hours and 19 minutes.
How did Auger-Aliassime handle the late start and weather?
The Canadian weathered both the late start time and the extended rain interruption to secure the victory. According to CityNews Vancouver, Auger-Aliassime finished with 17 aces, 48 winners, and 11 double faults, alongside 50 unforced errors. He won 18 of 22 service games and six of 21 return games.
After the match, Auger-Aliassime acknowledged the difficulty of the contest. "We've known each other since we were like 10 years old, but this is the first time we've played one another. He caused me a lot of problems out there … but most importantly I'm through to the next round," he said, according to CityNews Vancouver.
What's next for Canadian players at the U.S. Open?
Auger-Aliassime will face Russian Karen Khachanov in the second round, after Khachanov defeated Argentina's Roman Burruchaga in straight sets. Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ontario, advanced past Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic in four sets on Sunday and will play France's Luca Van Assche in his second-round match on Wednesday. Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Quebec, defeated China's Shuai Zhang in straight sets on Sunday and is scheduled to face Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew in her second-round women's singles match on Wednesday.
Sources
- CityNews Vancouver: Felix Auger-Aliassime advances with opening-round win at U.S. Open. Published August 31, 2026.
- CityNews Halifax: Felix Auger-Aliassime advances with opening-round win at U.S. Open. Published September 1, 2026.
Reported from public sources.