Rublev, Auger-Aliassime Clash with Grand Slam Momentum on the Line at US Open

Andrey Rublev and Felix Auger-Aliassime meet Monday at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center with a place in the U.S. Open quarterfinals and contrasting career narratives at stake.

Rublev, a long-time top-10 player and two-time Masters 1000 champion, would reach a 10th Grand Slam quarterfinal with a win and attempt to end an 0-for-9 streak of failing to progress past that round at majors. Auger-Aliassime, who reached the U.S. Open semifinals as a 21-year-old in 2021, is trying to re-establish consistency after a period hampered by injuries and uneven results.

Both players bring contrasting strengths to the match. Rublev is known for his relentless baseline aggression and heavy groundstrokes that have made him a fixture deep in draws despite the lack of a Grand Slam breakthrough. Auger-Aliassime’s game is built around an imposing serve and an attacking style that can overwhelm opponents when it is firing.

Tournament projections and some betting previews heading into the match favored Auger-Aliassime, citing his power game and previous success at Flushing Meadows. Neither player is guaranteed a straightforward path beyond Monday: the winner would likely face either Alex de Minaur or Leandro Riedi in the quarterfinals, both of whom have produced upsets and pushed higher-ranked players in the tournament.

Auger-Aliassime’s 2021 run to the U.S. Open semifinals set early expectations that he would join the next generation of major champions after the era dominated by the so-called Big Three. Subsequent seasons have been marked by disrupted momentum; injuries and periods of inconsistent form have prevented a sustained run at the top. His ability to deploy an aggressive serve-and-forehand combination remains a potent weapon when he finds rhythm.

Rublev’s career has followed a different trajectory: steady results, frequent deep runs at high-level events and success on the ATP Tour, but an elusive Grand Slam semifinal has continued to define his major tournament record. Entering Monday, he and his coaching team will be focused on applying the heavy baseline pressure and minimizing unforced errors that have carried him through earlier rounds.

Coaches and commentators point to key tactical battles that could decide the match: the effectiveness of Auger-Aliassime’s first serve, Rublev’s return-of-serve and the two players’ ability to convert break points in pivotal moments. The faster hard courts at Flushing Meadows generally reward aggressive serving and quick ball-striking, factors that could amplify the match’s attacking dynamics.

A victory would carry immediate practical implications — moving the winner into the final eight at a Grand Slam — and symbolic weight for both players. For Rublev, it would represent the first step toward shedding a long-standing barrier at majors. For Auger-Aliassime, a win would signal renewed momentum and a potential return to the form that produced a surprise run to the last four four years ago.

The match adds to a busy day at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center as the tournament advances toward the business end of the draw. Results from Monday will clarify which contender has the form and resilience to press a deeper run at this year’s U.S. Open.