When the US Open draw was unveiled, the first round would feature a battle between two rising Canadian stars. 28th seed Denis Shapovalov would take on Felix Auger-Aliassime, who qualified to secure his spot in the US Open main draw. Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime have been friends from a young age, growing up together competing in junior nationals to now being the future faces of Canadian tennis.
Under the lights on the Grandstand Court, tonight was supposed to be the moment where two Canadian athletes would leave their friendship aside to go toe to toe for a spot in the second round. But as the match was heading to a third set, Auger-Aliassime began to walk slowly to his chair. He requested a trainer, which the umpire granted, as the young Canadian was experiencing a racing heart. The trainer tried to get his heart rate to come down but it didn’t matter. A few games later, Felix Auger-Aliassime went over to shake hands and embrace Denis Shapovalov, retiring in his first ever Grand Slam match.
“It’s actually really tough to see him going out like this,” Shapovalov said. “I told him at the net we’re going to be back here, we’re going to play so many of these.”
Not First Time Auger-Aliassime Experienced Heart Issues
Since a very young age, Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime has been put on a tennis pedestal. At the age of 14, he would be the youngest to ever qualify and win a main draw match at an ATP Challenger event. For a player 17 and under, he would have the second most titles with three and end up winning the Junior US Open title in 2016.
In 2018, he earned his highest ranking on the ATP Tour of 144th, after defeating 20th ranked Lucas Pouille of France in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 at the Rogers Cup in Toronto. It was his first victory over a Top 20 opponent, cementing Auger-Aliassime into the international spotlight.
But as early as 2016, the Canadian phenom had been diagnosed with a heart condition known as tachycardia. Tachycardia is a condition where the heart rate elevates above the resting rate, leading to severe, sustained episodes of irregular heartbeat. It is the same disease that American Mardy Fish had suffered while on the ATP Tour, ultimately forcing him to retire in August 2016.
At a Challenger event in 2017, Auger-Aliassime was forced to retire due to experiencing an episode on the court. The episodes are often exacerbated with heat and unfortunately, cannot be predicted or forewarned. They just happen and for Auger-Aliassime, he is the one who ultimately suffers, as his desire to compete on a tennis court is superseded by a debilitating health condition.
Auger-Aliassime, Shapovalov Demonstrate Sportsmanship Amidst Gloomy Retirement
Felix Auger-Aliassime’s tachycardia episode could not have come at a worse time in the match against Denis Shapovalov. After losing the first set, Shapovalov looked to be in control and en route to a straight-set victory over his young country counterpart. But Auger-Aliassime battled, showcasing his powerful groundstrokes to put pressure on Shapovalov’s serve. Down 2-5, Auger-Aliassime would win five straight games to take the second set, evening the match at a set apiece.
The temperature on the Grandstand Court crept above 83 degrees Fahrenheit. And as the heat was turning up in the match, the tachycardia episode struck Auger-Aliassime, ending his chance at a bid into the second round of the US Open. When it was clear that he could not continue, the emotions took over the young Canadian, soon to be comforted and consoled by his friend Denis Shapovalov, in a beautiful moment of friendship and sportsmanship.
“I’m sorry,” was all that Felix Auger-Aliassime could utter as he walked off the Grandstand court, his thoughts occupied with doubt, frustration and overwhelming disappointment. As he was talking to Shapovalov about his mindset in retiring, he immediately returned the favour of support to his Canadian teammate.
“Go get it man, good luck,” Auger-Aliassime whispered to Shapovalov.
Tennis players, from a very young age, dream of the moment when they finally can compete in a Grand Slam tournament. With a player of Felix Auger-Aliassime’s profile and promise, it is unfortunate that his moment in the spotlight would be cut short to a potentially career-ending condition.
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