Félix Auger-Aliassime retired from his first-round match at the Australian Open on January 19, 2026, against Nuno Borges although trailing 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, marking an early exit for the Canadian ranked within the top ten.
The 23-year-old Auger-Aliassime was forced to stop play at the beginning of the fourth set due to cramping, according to reports. This retirement follows a similar incident involving another Canadian player, Marina Stakusic, who too withdrew from her first-round match earlier in the day at Melbourne Park. Stakusic, competing against Priscilla Hon, required a wheelchair to leave the court after experiencing severe cramps.
Stakusic attributed her condition to a combination of the heat and stress, stating, “It can be the heat, it can be the stress. I’ve never experienced anything like this, it was extremely painful.” Temperatures in Melbourne were approaching 30 degrees Celsius at the time of her match.
Auger-Aliassime’s withdrawal represents the first time a top-ten ranked player has been eliminated from the tournament this year. The Canadian’s departure adds to a day of unexpected outcomes at the Australian Open, with both he and Stakusic succumbing to health issues during their respective matches.
The incidents occurred amidst reports of challenging conditions for players, including concerns about the heat and instances of ball kids collapsing.
