Felix Auger-Aliassime experienced firsthand the bustling nature of New York City, known for its non-stop activity. His match at the U.S. Open started late and lasted for three hours and 19 minutes, including a 55-minute rain delay between sets two and three. Despite the lack of rest, the Montreal tennis standout emerged victorious in his first-round singles match against Australia’s Rinky Hijiata, securing a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win.

Reflecting on the match, Auger-Aliassime acknowledged the challenges posed by his long-time acquaintance Hijiata, stating, “He caused me a lot of problems out there… but most importantly I’m through to the next round.” The Canadian player showcased an impressive performance, tallying 17 aces, 48 winners, and 11 double faults, along with 50 unforced errors. Auger-Aliassime succeeded in 18 out of 22 service games and six out of 21 return games. His next opponent will be Russian player Karen Khachanov, who triumphed over Roman Burruchaga of Argentina in straight sets.

In other U.S. Open matches involving Canadian players, Denis Shapovalov from Richmond Hill, Ont., is set to compete in his second-round men’s singles match against France’s Luca Van Assche on Wednesday. Shapovalov secured a victory over Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia in four sets, while Van Assche defeated Britain’s Cameron Norrie in a similar fashion.

Furthermore, Leylah Fernandez hailing from Laval, Que., is slated to face Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand in her second-round women’s singles match on Wednesday. Fernandez emerged victorious against Shuai Zhang of China in straight sets, while Sawangkaew achieved a similar result against Panna Udvardy of Hungary.

The U.S. Open continues to showcase thrilling tennis action, with players like Auger-Aliassime, Shapovalov, and Fernandez making their mark on the prestigious tournament.