Felix Auger-Aliassime retires at Australian Open, Nuno Borges advances | ATP Tour
australian open
Auger-Aliassime retires at Australian Open, Borges advances
Canadian retires early in fourth set
January 19, 2026
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Felix Auger-Aliassime bowed out against Nuno Borges in Melbourne on Monday with a loss in two sets.
Written by ATP Staff
Seventh seed Felix Auger-Aliassime was forced to withdraw from his first-round match at the Australian Open on Monday due to injury. Portugal’s Nuno Borges led 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, but the Canadian was unable to continue.
Auger-Aliassime, 25, reached the semifinals of last year’s U.S. Open and will be looking to start the 2026 Grand Slam season in similar form. But Auger-Aliassime appeared to be struggling with a left leg injury, calling a medical timeout late in the third set and receiving treatment again before the start of the fourth set. Auger-Aliassime retired after two points in the fourth set.
“I feel for him,” Borges said of Auger-Aliassime. “I know what it’s like for him to struggle physically, that’s part of tennis. I hope he gets better soon and gets back to his best level.
“It was a great win for me no matter what. I thought I performed well. Maybe if he had been 100 percent it would have been a different score, but I’m really happy to get it done and get another chance on Wednesday.”
Borges will reach the fourth round in Melbourne in 2024, where he will next face either Juan Manuel Cerundolo or Australian wildcard Jordan Thompson. Borges, 28, reached the third round last year but lost to Carlos Alcaraz in four sets.
