Sports

Denis Shapovalov consoles Felix Auger-Aliassime after heartbreaking end to US Open debut

235

Shapovalov comforted his friend (Picture: Eurosport)

The battle of the Canadian hotshots was brought to an end in heartbreaking fashion as Felix Auger-Aliassime was forced to retire from their first-round US Open clash due to a heart problem.

In the youngest match-up at Flushing Meadows since a then 19-year-old Novak Djokovic met 17-year-old American Donald Young, the pair had split the first two sets before the younger Canadian began to struggle.

After taking a medical timeout with doctors attempting to reduce his heart rate, Auger-Aliassime eventually pulled out of their contest.

The 18-year-old broke down in tears at the net, where his close fried was quick to comfort him.

Shapovalov revealed in his on-court interview after the match exactly what he had told him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Its actually really tough to see him go down like this, says Shapovalov.

I told him at the net were going to be back here and were going to have so many of these.

Felix Auger Aliassime ile Denis Shapovalov arasındaki mücadele 1-1 devam ederken Felix Auger Aliassimein sakatlanarak maçtan çekilmesiyle Denis Shapovalov rakibini elemiş oldu. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/B722fv1Ro1

— Mezzala Sports (@MezzalaSports) August 28, 2018

That youll be back and well be playing finals here. All good brother.

It was a devastating end for Auger-Aliassime – the youngest player in the worlds top-200 who was making his debut in the main draw of a Grand Slam.

Shapovalov – the youngest player in the worlds top-100 – will go on to meet Andreas Seppi in the second round.