US OPEN
New York, Aug 31: No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev has become the highest seed to exit the 2025 US Open after being ousted by resurgent Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Auger-Aliassime played relentlessly bold, attacking tennis—striking 50 winners to 29, including 23 off his forehand wing alone—to beat Zverev, 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-4, 6-4.
The victory propelled him into the fourth round, his best Slam result since 2024 Roland Garros and best at Flushing Meadows since his semifinal run of 2021.
“This feels good, this feels good! Obviously, job’s not done, tournament’s still going, but this means a lot to me. I’ve been coming here (to the US Open) since 2018. I’m still young, but it’s been a few years and I’m working my way (back). Some of you [in the crowd] might be the first time you’re watching me tonight, but this feels really good,” said the Canadian.
The 25-year-old will next take on 15th seed Andrey Rublev, who survived a difficult five-setter against Coleman Wong 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.When Auger-Aliassime next faces Rublev, he’ll be playing for a place in his first Grand Slam quarterfinal since the 2022 Australian Open—more than three and a half years ago.
Earlier, top seed and defending champion Jannik Sinner of Italy extended his hardcourt Grand Slam winning streak to 24 on Saturday at the 2025 US Open, avoiding an upset bid from No. 27 Denis Shapovalov, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Returning to the Round of 16 for the fifth year in a row, Sinner is looking to become only the fourth man to reach five consecutive Grand Slam finals in the Open Era after Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, US Open reports.
Moreover, Sinner is bidding to become the first player to defend the men’s singles title at the US Open since Roger Federer in 2008.On the other hand, Jelena Ostapenko has issued an apology for her “no class” and “no education” comments towards Taylor Townsend during a heated US Open row.
Ostapenko has accused Townsend of having “no education and no class” in a fiery post-match exchange at Flushing Meadows after losing to the American 7-5 6-1 in the second round.
Tension between the pair escalated after a net cord went in Townsend’s favour during a 7-5, 6-1 second-round win – and 25th seed Ostapenko accused her of not apologising.
The pair had a curt handshake after Townsend clinched victory before Latvian Ostapenko made a comment at the net. Both players continued to express their views in an animated argument at Ostapenko’s chair.
Later at a press conference, Townsend said, “She told me I have no education, no class, and to see what happens if we play each other outside of the US.”
Ostapenko now took to Instagram to explain her side while addressing her behaviour and wrote, “I wanted to apologise for some of the things I said during my second-round singles match.”
“English is not my native language so when I said education, I was speaking only about what I believe as tennis etiquette, but I understand how the words I used could have offended many people beyond the tennis court.
“I appreciate the support as I continue to learn and grow as a person and a tennis player. Goodbye New York and I look forward to being back next year,” she added.
Following her doubles win alongside partner Katerina Siniakova on Saturday, Townsend told reporters she had still not heard from Ostapenko personally but she welcomed the public apology.“That’s nice that she did that, that she apologised. That’s fine. That’s cool. At the end of the day, I think that it’s a learning lesson for her.
“I mean, the fact of the matter is, like I said the other day, I’m still playing. So I don’t have time to be tapped in on what she’s got going on and what she says,” Townsend said. (IANS)