Auger-Aliassime Crumbles Early to Cramping in Melbourne

MELBOURNE, Australia—Felix Auger-Aliassime strode onto the court with the poise of a top seed, his heavy topspin forehand slicing through the warm air. But against Nuno Borges, the No. 7 seed from Canada found himself stretched thin in a battle of baselines, dropping the first set 3-6 after a flurry of inside-out winners from the Portuguese player. Auger-Aliassime clawed back in the second, evening it at 6-4 with a sharp 1–2 pattern that jammed Borges at the net, only for the third set to turn brutal just over two hours in.

As the decider unfolded, Auger-Aliassime’s legs locked up, his explosive serves flattening under the strain. Borges sensed the shift, firing crosscourt backhands to exploit the slowdown and seal a 6-4 edge when the Canadian extended his hand at the net. The 25-year-old’s retirement left the crowd murmuring, a sudden halt to what promised a deep run on these plexicushion courts.

Cramping reveals tour’s early grind

For Auger-Aliassime, the cramps hit like an ambush, turning his fluid movement into a labored shuffle amid Melbourne’s rising heat. He’d prepped hard on hard courts, logging miles in Brisbane and Doha to build that baseline firepower, yet the physical toll surfaced prematurely. This breakdown not only ends his Australian Open bid but spotlights the mental edge lost when the body rebels, forcing a reset before the clay season demands fresh resilience.

Borges, the underdog with flat groundstrokes that skid low, adapted seamlessly to the Canadian’s power. He varied his returns, dipping slice backhands to disrupt rhythm and drawing errors in extended rallies. The win propels the Portuguese player into the second round, his composure under pressure now a ticket to climb rankings against a qualifier next.

Seeds hold firm through openers

Elsewhere in the men’s draw, three-time Australian Open runner-up Daniil Medvedev steadied his form with a 7-5, 6-2, 7-6 (2) win over Jesper De Jong, his down-the-line passing shots piercing the Dutchman’s defenses in a tense tiebreak. Medvedev’s streak Down Under rolls on, buoyed by a Brisbane title that sharpened his slice and tactical patience. No. 19 seed Tommy Paul rolled past Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, using inside-in forehands to dominate an all-American clash and advance with Reilly Opelka and No. 13 Andrey Rublev.

These straight-set triumphs contrast Auger-Aliassime’s fade, showing how seeds lean on experience to navigate first-round jitters. Medvedev mixed paces to keep De Jong guessing, while Paul’s consistency pinned Kovacevic back, their progress easing the top half’s path amid the draw’s early volatility.

De Minaur sparks Australian fire

Local hope Alex de Minaur, the No. 6 seed, dismantled Mackenzie McDonald 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena, his quick footwork turning the lucky loser’s slices into easy putaways. McDonald had stepped in for the injured former Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini, but couldn’t match the Australian’s angled crosscourts that lit up the home crowd. De Minaur’s speed fueled winners from all corners, lifting national spirits as he eyes a strong home run.

With Auger-Aliassime out, the section opens wider for de Minaur’s charge, his energy converting pressure into momentum. Borges carries the day’s upset forward, while advancing seeds like Medvedev and Paul build on solid starts. As Melbourne’s first round wraps, these pivots hint at a tournament where physical prep and quick adjustments will define the survivors pushing toward the second week.