Felix Auger-Aliassime is lacking both form and fitness heading into the US Open, having missed several tournaments due to injury after Wimbledon and played just three matches during this year's US Open Series.
That leaves him somewhat underprepared, which could give an in-form Rinky Hijikata an opportunity to make this a much more competitive contest.
Hijikata Chases A Rare Victory Against A Top-10 Player
- Auger-Aliassime has a 4–4 record in opening-round matches at the US Open.
- He has a 20–4 record against players outside the Top 50 in 2026.
- Hijikata has a 2–2 record in first-round matches at the US Open.
- He has a 1–12 career record against Top 10 players.
HTH
This wil be their first meeting.
Auger-Aliassime Faces a Crucial US Open Campaign
Felix Auger-Aliassime played only one event during the North American swing, competing in Cincinnati, where he reached the fourth round before losing to Frances Tiafoe in straight sets. He will look to build on that momentum as he aims to defend his semifinal points this week.
The Canadian produced several impressive results earlier this year, recording eight quarterfinal-or-better finishes, including quarterfinal appearances at Wimbledon and the French Open, a title in Montpellier, and a runner-up finish in Rotterdam. These results helped him recently achieve a career-high ranking of No. 4.
He has made eight main-draw appearances at the US Open and cleared the opening-round hurdle four times, including semifinal runs in 2021 and 2025.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Age | Born 08 August 2000 |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| World Ranking | No. 4 |
| Career High | No. 4 (08 June 2026) |
| Elo Ranking | No. 8 |
| Tour-Level Titles | 9 |
Hijikata Arrives With Renewed Confidence
Rinky Hijikata has built solid momentum in recent weeks, reaching the third round in both Cincinnati and Winston-Salem. These results are particularly encouraging after he suffered three consecutive opening-round exits before his recent resurgence.
The 25-year-old struggled for consistency at tour level earlier this year and registered multiple main-draw wins only once during the first five months, reaching the fourth round at Indian Wells. However, his recent results suggest a rise in confidence and form.
He has played the US Open four times before and cleared the opening-round hurdle twice, notably reaching the fourth round in 2023.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Age | Born 23 February 2001 |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| World Ranking | No. 85 |
| Career High | No. 62 (26 August 2024) |
| Elo Ranking | No. 87 |
| Tour-Level Titles | 0 |