Felix Auger-Aliassime is not a stranger to good success at the US Open. He reached the semifinals in 2021, but he didn't seem to learn a lot from that run. He had only reached the fourth round once in his career otherwise, and has not made it past the second round in any year since.
But something about the 25-year-old Canadian feels different in 2025. He swept past third-seed Alexander Zverev in the third round after taking the final three sets after losing the first, and Andrey Rublev was the only person standing in his way toward a run to the quarterfinals.
Rublev is an interesting player. He is far too bombastic, often taking his aggression out on himself rather than anger toward his opponent. The Russian knows he has the talent to contend for majors, but he never has. He has never mastered the touch it takes to be a Grand Slam winner.
Felix Auger-Aliassime defeats Andrey Rublev in the fourth round of the US Open
Auger-Aliassime might not know that either. Not yet. But he played peerless tennis in the fourth round of the US Open against Rublev. After both players traded powerful blows in the first set, but the Canadian got a late break to take it 7-5, Auger-Aliassime was calmer and struck the ball with as much pace in sets two and three to keep Rublev at arm's distance.
The Canadian took set two 6-3, and got an early break in the third set to know that he only needed to keep holding serve to move into the quarterfinals and play Australian Alex de Minaur. The Canadian had only beaten the Russian once before, but he didn't play like it.
The match was a good one for Felix Auger-Aliassime, too. Both he and Andrey Rublev played efficiently, but the Canadian played bigger in the bigger points. That is what it takes to win a major. He might be well on his way to shocking everyone and winning the US Open. He took set three 6-4.
His career high is number six. With his current run in New York, he is in the top 20 again. He shouldn't be discounted from climbing into the top 10 again by the end of the year.