Felix Auger-Aliassime Surprises Tennis World with Breakthrough Grand Slam Victory—Here’s What Happens Next

PARIS—Canadian tennis standout Félix Auger-Aliassime saw a promising start at Roland Garros evaporate Tuesday, surrendering a two-set advantage and bowing out of the 2025 French Open in a five-set heart-breaker to Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi (5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2). Auger-Aliassime, seeded 29th, appeared in full command after racing through the first two sets with aggressive first-strike tennis and just eight unforced errors. Yet an untimely dip in first-serve percentage and a taped-up left ankle opened the door for Arnaldi, ranked No. 36, who seized momentum with fearless return games and unrelenting depth off both wings. Key moments • First set: the Montreal native secured the lone break at 6-5 and served it out at love. • Second set surge: back-to-back breaks propelled him to a 4-0 lead before sealing it 6-2. • Turning point: serving at 1-0, 40-15 in set three, Auger-Aliassime double-faulted; Arnaldi broke and never looked back, winning 15 of the next 19 baseline rallies. • Decider drama: the Italian saved double break point at 3-2, then broke twice more as the Canadian’s movement visibly waned. What Auger-Aliassime said “I felt great early, but my ankle stiffened and I stopped swinging freely,” he told French-language media in the mixed zone, adding that the issue first flared up in Hamburg last week. “Still, credit to Matteo—he raised his level and kept the crowd in it.” Season context The 23-year-old entered Paris riding a semifinal run at the ATP 500 in Hamburg and eyeing a return to the Top 10. Instead, the early exit keeps him searching for a signature clay-court result; his best showing at Roland Garros remains the fourth round (2022, 2024). Stat box • Winners/unforced errors: 49/58 • Break-point conversion: 4/12 • First-serve points won after set two: 58 % • Career five-set record: 6-8 Canadian picture With Auger-Aliassime out, Denis Shapovalov and Gabriel Diallo carry the Maple Leaf into round two, while 18-year-old Victoria Mboko headlines the women’s side tomorrow. Road ahead Auger-Aliassime is scheduled for grass-court tune-ups in ’s-Hertogenbosch and Halle before Wimbledon, pending an MRI on the ankle later this week. SEO spotlight Fans searching for “Felix Auger Aliassime French Open 2025,” “Auger-Aliassime injury update,” and “Matteo Arnaldi upset Roland Garros” will find all match statistics, post-match quotes, and upcoming schedule details here—bookmark for real-time updates as Canada’s top men’s player plots his grass-court comeback.