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Felix Auger-Aliassime explains decision behind Australian Open first-round retirement

Originally posted on HITC | By Matthew Johns | Last updated Jan 20, 2026 11:10 AM ET

Felix Auger-Aliassime’s first-round match at the Australian Open didn’t go as planned, with the Canadian unable to see it through to the end.

Auger-Aliassime had an impressive 2025 season that saw him pick up three titles and reach the semi-finals of the US Open.

That run helped him climb to a career-high world No. 5 ranking, raising expectations for what he might achieve in 2026.

He seemed well-prepared after training with Jannik Sinner in Melbourne ahead of his opening match, but things did not play out as he had hoped once competition began.

Felix Auger-Aliassime gives injury update after Australian Open withdrawal

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Auger-Aliassime looked to be in control early, taking the opening set 6-3. But after dropping the next two, he spoke with the physio and decided to retire from the match, allowing Borges to advance.

That made Auger-Aliassime the highest-seeded player to exit so far this year.

He addressed what happened during his press conference, saying: “I’m okay, but I just started cramping at the start of the third set. Yeah, it became very difficult to be competitive at this level.”

The Canadian star was then asked if it was down to the heat or if there was something else at play.

“I don’t have all the answers now. I’m trying to be very professional at everything I do, prepare well. I love this sport, and I love to play. So I try to do everything I can in my control to get ready.

“Obviously it hurts even more, because you know, if I was self-aware and I was, like, well, I wasn’t really ready or I wasn’t doing everything, then you have to be honest with yourself. But even with being honest with myself, I’m not totally finding the reasons why this is happening. It wasn’t happening in the past, so I’ll have to figure it out.”

Felix Auger-Aliassime discusses his history with cramping on the court

It is a tough setback for Auger-Aliassime, especially given the momentum he built up last year. He would have been looking to take that momentum into the first major tournament of 2026.

During questions about his condition, he was asked when he had last experienced anything similar during a match.

He referenced his recent US Open semi-final against Sinner, but pointed out this was the first time it had happened so early in a tournament.

“Yeah, especially this early in the tournament. You know, if I had struggles with Jannik in US Open, we were all the way to the semifinals, third set. But, yeah, I can’t recall ever in my life this early in a tournament, this early in a match.”

Daniil Medvedev is now the highest-ranked player left in that section of the draw.

Looking ahead, Auger-Aliassime is expected to take three weeks off before returning to action at the Rotterdam Open.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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