Auger-Aliassime Battles Rain Delay to Reach US Open Second Round

Two Sets of Momentum, One Rainstorm

Félix Auger-Aliassime safely navigated a first-round obstacle course at the 2026 US Open on Monday, defeating Australia's Rinky Hijikata 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in three hours and 19 minutes. The contest was interrupted by a 55-minute rain delay that arrived at the worst possible moment — immediately after Hijikata had leveled the match — and threatened to swing momentum irreversibly in the Australian's favour.

That it did not was entirely down to Auger-Aliassime. The Canadian produced some of his best tennis after the covers came off, reasserting himself in the third set and carrying that composure through to a fourth-set conclusion that had the crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium engaged throughout.

The Rain Arrives at the Worst Moment

FAA had won a tight first set 7-5, with both players exchanging breaks before the Canadian held his nerve in the closing stages. Hijikata, however, raised his level considerably in the second set, taking it 6-4 with some aggressive and accurate tennis that set up an intriguing contest. When the rain arrived midway through proceedings and forced a 55-minute suspension, many expected the momentum to remain with the Australian.

Instead, Auger-Aliassime emerged from the delay with renewed purpose. He broke Hijikata early in the third set and rolled through it 6-3 without difficulty. The fourth set followed a similar pattern: the Canadian, drawing on the experience of a seasoned Grand Slam competitor, controlled the crucial moments and eventually closed it out 7-5 to book his place in round two.

A Venue Where He Feels at Home

Auger-Aliassime has spoken openly in the past about his affection for the US Open and for New York. He grew up following the tournament and his results here across recent years — including a quarterfinal in 2022 — reflect a comfort level that translates onto the court. That familiarity proved valuable on Monday when the conditions conspired to make the match unpredictable.

"The conditions here suit my game," he said after the win. "I knew it was going to be a battle — Rinky doesn't give you anything for free. The rain delay was tough mentally, but I stayed focused on what I needed to do."

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The Canadian came into the tournament off a solid summer hard-court season and carries legitimate ambitions of going deep here. His game — a powerful serve combined with aggressive baseline play — is well suited to the New York conditions, and he has the ranking points and experience to back up those expectations.

Hijikata Makes FAA Work for Every Point

Credit is due to Hijikata, who refused to wilt despite facing a top seed in conditions that ultimately favoured the more experienced player. The Australian pushed throughout all four sets and would have been a worthy winner on another day. His ability to break back in the second and keep the match alive made for a compelling opening-round contest that reflected well on the depth of the men's draw.

Fellow Canadian Leylah Fernandez is also in action this week at Flushing Meadows, making it a significant fortnight for Canadian tennis. For Auger-Aliassime, however, the focus now shifts entirely to the second round and the next challenge ahead.