Canadian tennis star Félix Auger-Aliassime enters the final Grand Slam tournament of the season as the No. 3 seed, facing a potentially demanding early path in the men’s singles bracket, according to tournament announcements released on Thursday. Auger-Aliassime opens his campaign against world No. 85 Rinky Hijikata of Australia, setting up a challenging fortnight as he attempts to replicate or improve upon his deep run from the previous year.
Auger-Aliassime’s Bracket and Projected Opponents
According to tournament draws, Auger-Aliassime could face former top-10 player Karen Khachanov in the second round. Auger-Aliassime and Khachanov have split their four previous career meetings. Further up the bracket, the Canadian’s quarter features rising Peruvian star Ignacio Buse as a potential third-round opponent, alongside No. 9 seed Taylor Fritz of the United States and No. 5 Flavio Cobolli of Italy.
https://x.com/usopen/status/2093006318818754801
Did you know? Auger-Aliassime reached the semifinals of the US Open last year before losing to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who is out this year because of injury.
Shapovalov and Fernandez Paths in the Main Draw
Denis Shapovalov, ranked No. 47 in the world, enters the men’s singles draw and will face world No. 64 Miomir Kecmanovic in the opening round. Shapovalov holds a 5-0 career head-to-head record against the Serbian, though their last three encounters all extended to a deciding set. On the women’s side, No. 31 seed Leylah Fernandez stands as the lone Canadian guaranteed to be in the field. Fernandez is slated to play world No. 53 Zhang Shuai of China in her opening match.
Qualifying Results and Weather Delays
Qualifying rounds faced disruptions as rain pushed matches for Canadian players Bianca Andreescu and Liam Draxl to Friday, while Carson Branstine lost in her final qualifying match. Meanwhile, main draw action starts Sunday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does Félix Auger-Aliassime play in the first round?
Auger-Aliassime opens against Australia’s Rinky Hijikata.
Who are the guaranteed Canadian singles players in the main draw?
Félix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov are competing on the men’s side, while Leylah Annie Fernandez is, at the time of the draw, the lone Canadian woman.
When does the main draw start?
The main draw starts Sunday.
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