Shock Exit: Auger-Aliassime & Eala Ousted in US Open Mixed Doubles
Canadian Hope Ends in US Open Mixed Doubles: Auger-Aliassime and Eala Fall to Power Couple
What Happened on the Court?
Imagine a tennis match where two teams of two players face off—one man and one woman per team. This is called mixed doubles. On Tuesday at the US Open in New York, Canada’s Félix Auger-Aliassime (from Montreal) teamed up with Alexandra Eala (from the Philippines). They played against a very special duo: Gael Monfils (France) and Elina Svitolina (Ukraine), who happen to be married in real life!
Important Point: The husband-and-wife team won 4-1, 4-1 in just two quick sets. That means they won four games to one in each set—like winning two rounds of a game 4-1 each time.
How the Match Played Out
Here’s a simple breakdown of the key numbers:
-
Auger-Aliassime & Eala:
- 3 aces (super-fast serves the other team couldn’t touch)
- 9 winners (great shots that won the point)
- 8 unforced errors (mistakes they made without pressure)
- Monfils & Svitolina:
- Won all 7 of their first-serve points
- Won 5 out of 9 second-serve points
- Played cleaner, steadier tennis
Think of it like this: Monfils and Svitolina were like a well-oiled machine—they barely missed when it mattered most.
What’s Next for the Winners?
Monfils and Svitolina advance to the next round. They’ll face one of these two star-packed teams:
- Novak Djokovic (Serbia) + Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)
Two of the best singles players in the world! - Katerina Siniakova (Czechia) + Henry Patten (Britain)
Siniakova is a doubles legend!
Why This Tournament Is a Big Deal
The mixed doubles event at this year’s US Open has a record-breaking prize purse:
- Total prize money: $2.88 million
- Winners take home: $1 million (split between the two players)
That’s a lot of money for just a few matches—so all the top players want in!
Canada’s Run Is Over
Félix Auger-Aliassime was the last Canadian left in the entire tournament. Here’s how the others exited:
- Gabriela Dabrowski (Ottawa) + Harri Heliovaara (Finland) → Lost in qualifying (the round before the main draw)
- Leylah Fernandez (Laval, QC) → Her partner Frances Tiafoe (USA) withdrew due to a toe injury before they could play
Tough break for Team Canada!
Other Canadians in Action (Singles Qualifying)
While the main doubles was happening, two other Canadians were playing singles qualifying matches (trying to earn a spot in the main tournament):
| Player | From | Opponent | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liam Draxl | Newmarket, ON | Nicolas Mejia | Colombia |
| Katherine Sebov | Toronto | Julia Avdeeva | Russia |
Results for these matches weren’t in yet when this article was written.
Summary
- Félix Auger-Aliassime and Alexandra Eala lost 4-1, 4-1 in the first round of US Open mixed doubles.
- They were beaten by Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina—a married couple who played nearly flawless tennis.
- Monfils/Svitolina now face either Djokovic/Sabalenka or Siniakova/Patten next.
- The mixed doubles prize pool is $2.88M, with $1M to the winners.
- No Canadians remain in the main draws after Dabrowski lost in qualifying and Fernandez’s partner withdrew.
- Liam Draxl and Katherine Sebov were competing in singles qualifying.
FAQ
What is mixed doubles in tennis?
It’s a match with two teams of two—each team has one man and one woman. They take turns hitting the ball, just like regular doubles.
Why did Leylah Fernandez not play?
Her partner, Frances Tiafoe, pulled out because of a toe injury. In doubles, if one player can’t play, the team is out.
How much money do the winners get?
The winning team splits $1 million—so $500,000 each. That’s huge for a doubles event!
Who are Monfils and Svitolina?
Gael Monfils is a fun, athletic French player known for amazing shots. Elina Svitolina is a top Ukrainian player. They got married in 2021 and have a daughter named Skai.
What does “unforced error” mean?
It’s a mistake a player makes on their own—not because the opponent hit a great shot. Like hitting the ball into the net or wide when you had time to set up.