The 25-year-old’s aggressive and powerful game—characterized by a booming serve, vicious groundstrokes, and impressive athleticism—came together at the perfect time. The victory prolongs Zverev's quest for an elusive Grand Slam title, a prize many believe is long overdue for a player of his caliber.
After the match, Auger-Aliassime emphasized that his top-tier performance was no accident. "In practice I felt like I was doing things really well. Mentally, [I've had] more clarity in my game and how I want to play," he said. He added that a performance of this quality "doesn't fall out of the sky."
Zverev's Ongoing Quest for a Major Title
Often judged as the best player of his generation without a major trophy, Zverev's career has been marked by close calls and heartbreaking losses, including blowing a two-set lead in the 2020 US Open final. In a bid to turn the tide, he recently sought the guidance of Toni Nadal, the renowned coach who helped his nephew Rafael Nadal win 16 of his 22 Grand Slam titles.
Ironically, Auger-Aliassime himself was coached by Toni Nadal from 2021 to 2024. In the lead-up to the tournament, Nadal told BBC Sport that he had been working to instill the belief in Zverev that he could beat top players like Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic. Instead, it was his former student who handed him the loss.
Auger-Aliassime will now face Russian 15th seed Andrey Rublev in the fourth round.
Late-Night Thriller Sees Bublik Advance
In another late-night match, 23rd seed Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan advanced to the fourth round after a marathon five-set victory over American Tommy Paul. The match, which ended at 1:15 a.m. local time, finished with a final score of 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1. Paul, who had already endured a grueling late-night match two days prior, appeared to be struggling with physical ailments during the final set.
Bublik, who has not had his serve broken once in the tournament, was gracious in victory. "I'd like to wish Ben [Shelton] and Tommy the best recovery because they're close friends and it was a pity to see them like this," he said. He now sets up a showdown with defending champion Jannik Sinner.
Swiatek Overcomes Adversity to Advance at US Open
While Alexander Zverev struggled to find a solution to his on-court problems, six-time major champion Iga Swiatek demonstrated her championship mettle by fighting through adversity in her third-round match. The 24-year-old Pole, who has a reputation for her mental fortitude, trailed Russia's Anna Kalinskaya 5-1 in the opening set before mounting a stunning comeback to win 7-6 (7-2), 6-4.
Playing on Arthur Ashe Stadium during Saturday's night session, Swiatek credited her ability to stay calm under pressure. "It's not easy sometimes to find the solutions... You need to have your mind open enough to think about what you can do," she said after the match. "At 5-1, it's easy to panic, and I didn't."
Swiatek's mid-match adjustment and refusal to panic highlight the trust she has in her natural ability and the work she's been putting in with her coach, Wim Fissette. After a slow start to the season by her high standards, the former long-time world number one has turned things around, recently winning the Wimbledon title and the Cincinnati Open.
Despite her eventual victory, Swiatek was far from her best against the 29th-seeded Kalinskaya, with a particularly low first-serve percentage. Her animated celebration after securing the win showed just how much the hard-fought victory meant to her. "I'm happy that I came back, kept being positive and figured it out," she added.
Swiatek will now face Russia's 13th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the next round.
Haddad Maia Dominates Late-Night Match
In the other night-session match, Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia made quick work of Greece's Maria Sakkari. The 18th seed, who took the court at 11:15 p.m. local time, swiftly wrapped up a decisive 6-1, 6-2 victory. Haddad Maia now advances to the round of 16, where she will face Wimbledon runner-up Amanda Anisimova.