Félix Auger-Aliassime's run at the 2026 US Open was cut short after experiencing some unusual health woes.
Auger-Aliassime, the third seed in the men's draw, was soundly defeated 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 by Russia's Karen Khachanov in second-round action Thursday at the hardcourt Grand Slam.
Afterward, the Canadian told reporters he didn't feel well physically throughout the match.
"It's tough to talk about anything else than how I felt physically," Auger-Aliassime said. "After a set and a half, I just didn't feel well and (was) dizzy and seeing spots. I thought maybe it would pass but it didn't. That's the end of the tournament for me and now back to the drawing board."
The 26-year-old Canadian struggled with his serve throughout the match. He was accurate on just 58 per cent of first serves and faced 20 break points, surrendering seven.
Auger-Aliassime also hit into eight double faults and had 47 unforced errors to Khachanov's 30. Both players had 12 aces.
"Karen's a great player, but I cannot beat him or anyone in this draw feeling the way I felt today," Auger-Aliassime said.
Auger-Aliassime advanced to the semifinals of last year's US Open before losing to runner-up Jannik Sinner. His early exit this year puts his career-high world ranking of No. 4 in jeopardy.
The health woes were a mystery to Auger-Aliassime, who said he felt fine heading into the match. He said he'll run some tests when he returns home to try to get to the bottom of it.
The Canadian also said he hopes to announce a new coach in a few weeks after parting ways with Frederic Fontang earlier this summer.
In first-round women's doubles action, second seeds Gabriela Dabrowski of Ottawa and Luisa Stefani of Brazil downed Russia's Irina Khromacheva and Anastasia Detiuc of Czechia 6-1, 6-3.
Dabrowski and Stefani had four aces and fired 21 winners to their opponents' nine.
Stefani and Dabrowski, who won her second US Open doubles title last year with former partner Erin Routliffe of New Zealand, will next face the winner of Friday's match between Italy's Sara Errani and Austria's Lilli Tagger and American twins Kristina and Annika Penickova.
Also on Thursday, Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., and partner Janice Tjen of Indonesia cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 win over Slovenia's Nika Radisic and Isabelle Haverlag of the Netherlands.
They are next scheduled to face Routliffe and Indonesian partner Aldila Sutjiadi.
Fernandez was set to return to singles action Friday with a third-round match against third-seed Jessica Pegula of the United States. In third-round men's action, Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., was set to take on eighth-seeded American Ben Shelton.
— with files from CP.
