Third seed Auger-Aliassime exits US Open in second round after dizziness episode

Third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime lost to unseeded Karen Khachanov 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-2 6-2 in the second round on September 3, becoming the highest-ranked man to exit the US Open draw so far this year, according to BBC Sport.

Auger-Aliassime reported experiencing dizziness and vision disturbances during the match. "After a set and a half, I just couldn't feel well and was dizzy and seeing spots and couldn't recover," the 26-year-old told BBC Sport after the loss.

The player said the episode was unlike anything he had experienced in his career. "I've never felt quite like that. I've had cramps before. I've felt tired towards the end of matches, but in a normal way. This was abnormal a little bit, and there were no signs in the last couple of days and no signs this morning, as well," he said, per BBC Sport.

Auger-Aliassime had reached the US Open semi-finals twice previously and reached the quarter-finals of both Wimbledon and the French Open in 2026. He withdrew from the Rogers Cup in Montreal in August with a back injury. Temperatures reached 30°C in New York on the day of his match.

Khachanov, who advanced with the victory, acknowledged the circumstances. "I am not sure but maybe he had some physical issues and that is part of our sport. I wish him to feel better and speedy recovery if he is injured," Khachanov said in his on-court interview, per BBC Sport.

The tournament has seen other top players struggle in the conditions. Novak Djokovic, the fourth seed and a 24-time Grand Slam champion, exited in the first round and said he "despised every moment I spent on the court for that." Italy's 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti lost 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-2 to Australian wildcard Dane Sweeny and also appeared to battle the physical conditions, per BBC Sport's reporting.