Alex de Minaur and World No.2 out of US Open as legend shocked by detail he ‘can’t recall seeing’
In a dramatic turn at the 2025 US Open, Australian No. 1 Alex de Minaur and women’s World No. 2 Iga Swiatek were eliminated in the quarterfinals, with de Minaur’s loss marked by a serving collapse that stunned tennis legend Jim Courier. De Minaur, ranked World No. 8, fell to Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 7-6(9-7), 7-5, 7-6(7-4) on September 3, 2025, at Arthur Ashe Stadium, marking his fifth loss in five major quarterfinals. Swiatek, meanwhile, was upset by Amanda Anisimova 6-4, 6-3, ending her bid for a second US Open title. Both exits, reported by *Yahoo Sports* and *The Guardian*, underscored unexpected vulnerabilities in two of tennis’s brightest stars.
De Minaur’s match was defined by a serving nightmare, with his first-serve percentage plummeting to a career-low 42% and 11 double faults, including two critical ones in the fourth-set tiebreaker. Courier, a former US Open champion, remarked during commentary, “I can’t recall ever seeing de Minaur struggle so much on the first serve,” a sentiment echoed in *Yahoo Sports* coverage. Despite winning the first set 6-4, de Minaur couldn’t capitalize on his speed and defensive prowess, as Auger-Aliassime, ranked No. 27, seized control in a match lasting over four hours. This defeat dashed de Minaur’s hopes of becoming the first Australian man in a US Open semifinal since Lleyton Hewitt in 2005, leaving him “reeling” from his sixth Grand Slam quarterfinal disappointment.
Swiatek’s loss to Anisimova was equally shocking, coming weeks after a 6-0, 6-0 thrashing of the American in the Wimbledon final. Anisimova, ranked No. 43, played with newfound confidence, breaking Swiatek early and maintaining pressure with precise groundstrokes. “To come back from Wimbledon like that is really special,” Anisimova told *ESPN*, reflecting on her third major semifinal berth. Swiatek, who admitted to feeling “flat” post-match, struggled with unforced errors, a stark contrast to her usual dominance.
De Minaur’s loss was particularly poignant given his strategic approach off the court, balancing his coaches’ family time to maintain team harmony, as noted in a *Yahoo Sports* press conference. His sensitivity to mentors like Hewitt, who face similar family sacrifices, didn’t translate to on-court success this time. Auger-Aliassime, advancing to his second US Open semifinal, praised de Minaur’s improved net play but capitalized on his serving woes. Both players’ exits highlight the unpredictability of Grand Slams, with de Minaur now focusing on the 2026 Australian Open and Swiatek aiming to regroup after a stellar but inconsistent 2025.
