Felix Auger-Aliassime finds confidence in US Open Run

At 25, Montreal’s Félix Auger-Aliassime has surged back into the spotlight, reaching the U.S. Open semifinals after upsetting top-ranked players.

Few could have anticipated a semifinal run for 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime at the 2025 US Open.

The last, and only time, he reached the semifinals of a major was in 2021.

In his on-court interview after beating 8th seed Alex de Minaur in Wednesday’s quarterfinals, he reflected on the time since his last successful run at the tournament.

“It’s been a tough few years, but it feels even better to be back in the semifinals,” he said.

The first time, he was 21 years old and a much-hyped player who lost to the eventual champion, Daniil Medvedev.

Expectations were high for Auger-Aliassime from a young age. With a big serve and a bullet-like forehand, tennis pundits predicted he would win several majors.

“At 14, people were talking about him as being the next Federer,” said former player and and Tennis Canada’s vice-president of communications and professional events, Valerie Tetrault.

While the two share the same birthday, their tennis careers have been different.

Auger-Aliassime has won seven ATP titles, he was part of Canada’s winning team at the 2022 Davis Cup finals and the ATP Cup finals. He reached a career high-ranking of number six and even pushed Rafael Nadal to five sets at Roland Garros in 2022.

Injuries and some bad losses started to pile up over the years, and at only 25, some may have thought he peaked.

Derek Alleyne, a tennis coach and fan of Auger-Aliassime, said it’s been heartbreaking to watch him struggle over the years, losing games he should have won, but he said he saw a noticeable change when Auger-Aliassime beat 3rd seed Alexander Zverev in the third round.

“He’s never played better. that was the best match he ever played,” he said.

Not only was it his first top five win at a Grand Slam, but Alleyne said the victory unlocked something that had been missing from game, something that can’t be taught: confidence.

“He’s got a great coach, but it’s got to come from within for you, for the results to really show,” said Alleyne.

Off court, the last years have been better, as Felix Auger-Aliassime recently got engaged to his long-time girlfriend Nina Ghaibi, a professional equestrian. The wedding is fast approaching, and Auger-Aliassime says he made sure to schedule his suit fitting after the U.S. Open final.

His next opponent will be top seed Jannick Sinner, who is looking to defend his U.S. Open title. It will be a tough battle, but win or lose, Tetrault said Auger-Aliassime will emerge from the tournament a better player.

“This is a different Felix, and I like this Felix,” she said. “He’s only 25, and so I think there are still many good years in front of him.”