China Open Opening-Round Exit
Canadian tennis player Felix Auger-Aliassime saw his title hopes at the China Open come to an abrupt end on Wednesday following a straight-sets defeat to Karen Khachanov. Seeded second in the tournament, Auger-Aliassime fell 6-3, 6-3 to the unseeded Russian in a match that lasted just over 70 minutes in Beijing, according to reporting by Sports Illustrated.
While the scoreline suggests a dominant performance, the match stats painted a much tighter picture. The decisive factor proved to be break-point conversion. Khachanov successfully capitalized on three of his four break-point opportunities, whereas Auger-Aliassime failed to convert any of his chances. Following the match, Khachanov addressed the demanding nature of the tournament draw, noting that tricky conditions made every opening-round encounter a battle.
A Growing Matchup Disadvantage
The defeat highlights a troubling trend for the Canadian against this specific opponent. Less than four weeks prior, at the second round of the US Open, an unseeded Khachanov also eliminated Auger-Aliassime in a four-set battle: 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. That earlier loss cost the Canadian 750 ranking points and ended a major campaign prematurely.
With this latest result in Beijing, their head-to-head record shifts to 4-2 in favor of Khachanov, who has now claimed the last two consecutive meetings. Khachanov acknowledged that his prior victory in New York provided tactical motivation, though he approached the Beijing clash with a fresh mindset given the differing court conditions.
Broader Form Concerns and Coaching Changes
Beyond his struggles against the Russian player, Auger-Aliassime’s overall form has raised questions. The former world No. 5 has not secured a victory against a top-30 opponent since Wimbledon, marking a notable slump following a season that included a title in Montpellier in February alongside quarterfinal runs at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
In an effort to turn his fortunes around, Auger-Aliassime recently turned to high-profile reinforcement. According to Sportsnet, citing a report by Tom Kershaw of The Times published on Thursday, October 1, 2026, the Canadian has hired former world No. 3 Ivan Ljubicic as his coach. Ljubicic brings extensive pedigree to the team, having previously guided Roger Federer during his later Grand Slam-winning years and worked with Milos Raonic. Auger-Aliassime ended his decade-long partnership with Frederic Fontang in July as he looks to stabilize his game ahead of the indoor season.