Felix Auger-Aliassime gives injury update after suffering ‘problem’ which forced him to retire from his match at the Rotterdam Open
Felix Auger-Aliassime faced an unexpected setback at the Rotterdam Open when he was forced to retire from his first-round match.
Auger-Aliassime had started the 2025 season on a high note, defeating Aleksandar Kovacevic to win the Montpellier title, following up on his triumph in Adelaide, which marked his seventh ATP title. Many had expected him to continue his strong form on the indoor hard courts of Rotterdam, where he is a former champion.
However, in his first-round match against world No. 317 qualifier Andrea Vavassori, Auger-Aliassime lost the first set and, after appearing to suffer an issue midway through the second set, chose to retire. The decision came as a surprise to commentators and fans alike.
Auger-Aliassime called for a trainer after a struggle during a point in the second set, and once Vavassori leveled the match at one set all, Auger-Aliassime shook hands with his opponent and confirmed he could no longer continue.
Fans expressed their concern for the Canadian’s injury, and Auger-Aliassime took to social media to offer an update.
“Hey guys,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Unfortunately, I had to withdraw from my match here in Rotterdam today due to a problem with my right toe that came up during yesterday’s practice. I wish it could have felt better for the match, but I’ll have it taken care of this week. I’m sad to leave a tournament that I love early, but I hope to be fresh and ready to go for Doha coming up.”
In a follow-up post, Auger-Aliassime shared his disappointment about leaving Rotterdam early, but expressed his hopes for a quick recovery in time for the upcoming Qatar Open. The Doha tournament, set to begin February 17, will see the top ATP players in action, including Novak Djokovic.
Auger-Aliassime has a strong history in Qatar, reaching the semi-finals in 2023. He is also entered in the Dubai Tennis Championships, though his previous performance there was less successful, having been eliminated in the second round in 2023. After that, Auger-Aliassime will turn his attention to the Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami.
His best results in upcoming tournaments are as follows:
- Qatar Open: Semi-final (2023)
- Dubai Tennis Championships: Second round (2023)
- Indian Wells: Quarter-final (2023)
- Miami Open: Semi-final (2019)
For now, Auger-Aliassime will focus on recovering in time for the Qatar Open, aiming to return to full fitness ahead of his next challenge.
