With the second week of the US Open well underway, the quarterfinal line-up is set.
128 men entered the 2025 US Open men’s singles tournament, but just eight remain.
One of Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, Novak Djokovic, Alex de Minaur, Lorenzo Musetti, Andrey Rublev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, or Jiri Lehecka will pick up the title on Sunday, September 7.
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Many expect either Sinner or Alcaraz to come away with the trophy, but that’s not to say the other six men aren’t capable of upsetting the odds.
Two such players have impressed former ATP star Jack Sock in New York, who admits he’s been ‘taken aback’ by their performances.
Jack Sock has been ‘taken aback’ by Felix Auger-Aliassime and Lorenzo Musetti at the US Open
During the latest episode of ‘Something Major’, Sock shared his thoughts on two surprise US Open quarterfinalists.
“Both [Lorenzo] Musetti and Felix [Auger-Aliassime], I think I was selling stock in my mind. So I am taken aback at these results,” he said.
Entering the tournament low on confidence and form, Musetti and Auger-Aliassime surprised many by reaching the US Open quarterfinals.
Canada’s Auger-Aliassime, in particular, has ‘surprised’ Sock with how well he has been playing at Flushing Meadows.
“Felix beating [Alexander] Zverev was already shocking, and then just straight sets against [Andrey] Rublev, I was definitely surprised by that,” he said.
“But something is clicking for him. He seems more under control and playing smarter. The backhand is staying solid and not breaking down much.
“The serve, it does feel like he tends to double at times, but he is just playing really solid overall. Big props to him, but I am surprised, honestly.”
Sock’s co-host Steve Johnson agreed, as he commented on the change Auger-Aliassime has made to his forehand.
“Two things stand out to me about Felix. He is playing faster. He was very slow before, very methodical about his business,” he said.
“He is playing faster, which is good. He is getting into a better rhythm, and the forehand is not as spinny anymore.
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“I feel like he tried to manufacture this heavy forehand, and he is just hitting through it now. He is playing awesome.”
Johnson then suggested whether Auger-Aliassime has had a ‘good year’ on the ATP Tour.
“He had two wins in his last five Slams,” he said.
“We have talked about it here. Has he had a good year or not? He has two titles and another final; he is top something in the race, but I’m not sure if he’s had a good year [up until now].
“But now it’s officially a good year.”
Auger-Aliassime has endured plenty of ups and downs throughout 2025, but could be about to finish his Grand Slam campaign on a high note…
Felix Auger-Aliassime’s 2025 ATP season
As Johnson mentioned, Auger-Aliassime had won just two Grand Slam matches in 2025 before the US Open began.
2025 Australian Open 1R [WIN] – Felix Auger-Aliassime v Jan-Lennard Struff2025 Australian Open 2R [LOSS] – Felix Auger-Aliassime v Alejandro Davidovich Fokina2025 French Open 1R [LOSS] – Felix Auger-Aliassime v Matteo Arnaldi2025 Wimbledon 1R [WIN] – Felix Auger-Aliassime v James Duckworth2025 Wimbledon 2R [LOSS] – Felix Auger-Aliassime v Jan-Lennard Struff
He has, however, won two ATP titles this year, and is one of just eight players to have done so.
FinalTierSurfaceOpponentResultScoreAdelaide InternationalATP 250HardSebastian KordaWin6-3, 3-6, 6-1Open OccitanieATP 250Hard (indoorAleksandar KovacevicWin6-2, 6-7, 7-6Dubai Tennis ChampionshipsATP 500HardStefanos TsitsipasLoss3-6, 3-6Felix Auger-Aliassime’s record in ATP finals (2025)
Those performances ensured Auger-Aliassime maintained his place in the world’s top 30, although thanks to his run through to the quarters at Flushing Meadows, he can now look forward to a significant rankings jump.
Come Monday, Auger-Aliassime will be ranked 18th in the world… at worst.
Felix Auger-Aliassime’s potential ranking post-US OpenQF Loss – 18th SF Loss – 12th-14thF Loss – 11thChampion – 7th-8th
It would be a lot to ask for Auger-Aliassime to win the title and return to the top ten, but stranger things have happened.
He’ll first turn his attention to the quarterfinals, where he will play Australia’s Alex de Minaur, the world number eight.
Auger-Aliassime leads the head-to-head with De Minaur 2-1, but lost their previous meeting at the Italian Open a year ago.
It remains to be seen who will emerge victorious in their fourth ATP Tour encounter, but you won’t want to miss any of the action when Auger-Aliassime and De Minaur battle it out for a place in the US Open semifinals on Wednesday, September 3.