Felix Auger-Aliassime continues historic run at Olympics with quarterfinal win over Ruud

Felix Auger-Aliassime has become the first Canadian tennis player ever, male or female, to reach the singles semifinals at the Olympics, after a 6-4, 6-7 (8), 6-3 victory over Casper Ruud on Thursday.

It continues a historic run—he was already the first Canadian tennis player to even reach the singles quarterfinals of the Olympics.

“Amazing emotions right now,” Auger-Aliassime said afterwards.

“What a thrill, what a privilege to be living these types of emotions in sports. So, super happy. It was an amazing match, ups and downs, of course a lot of tension—but it makes the match even more special in a way for everybody involved. The victory feels more sweeter than if you win 6-2, 6-2 sometimes. So it was great that it came out my way, but yeah, some great tennis out there.

“I’m really happy right now.”

He was on the verge of closing Ruud out in straight sets—not only did he originally lead by a set and a break, 6-4, 3-1, but after losing the break a few games later, he even had a match point up 6-5 in the second set tie-break, before Ruud smacked an inside-out forehand just inside the line that Auger-Aliassime couldn’t get back.

But the Canadian came out firing in the decider, breaking Ruud for a 2-0 lead, and the two held from there until it was all over.

In the end, it was an impressive display of aggressive tennis from Auger-Aliassime, who finished the match with 45 winners to 37 unforced errors, including 14 aces to just four double faults.

It was his second Top 10 win in as many days, having beaten world No. 5 Daniil Medvedev in the third round on Wednesday, 6-3, 7-6 (5).

And there’s more.

With his wins over the No. 5-ranked Medvedev and the No. 9-ranked Ruud over the last two days, Auger-Aliassime has completed his career set of wins over every Top 10 ranking—No. 5 and No. 9 were the only two he was missing coming into this week.

AUGER-ALIASSIME’S FIRST WINS OVER EVERY TOP 10 RANKING:
No. 1: d. Alcaraz in 2022 Davis Cup RR
No. 2: d. Nadal in 2022 ATP Finals RR
No. 3: d. Zverev in 2022 ATP Cup RR
No. 4: d. Tsitsipas in 2022 Rotterdam F
No. 5: d. Medvedev in 2024 Olympics 3rd Rd
No. 6: d. Tsitsipas in 2019 Queen’s Club QFs
No. 7: d. Rublev in 2022 Rotterdam SFs
No. 8: d. Federer in 2021 Halle 2nd Rd
No. 9: d. Ruud in 2024 Olympics QFs
No. 10: d. Tsitsipas in 2019 Indian Wells 2nd Rd

And there’s even more—the Canadian has actually completed his career set of wins over every Top 30 ranking, having already had wins over every ranking from No. 11 to No. 30 previously, too.

The highest one he’s missing now is No. 35.

He'll face No. 3-ranked Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals on Friday.