Auger-Aliassime, Fernandez Wins Not Enough at United Cup

Photo : United Cup

Leylah Annie Fernandez and Félix Auger-Aliassime both scored impressive victories to pick up their first singles match wins of the new 2025 tennis season, but it was not enough for Team Canada to advance out of the group stage at the United Cup.

Canada opened the event with a victory over Croatia but a loss to the United States left the Canadians at the mercy of other results. They ultimately finished second in Group A, playing their matches in Perth, Australia, which was not enough to advance to the knockout stage of the combined team event.

Fernandez Starts Season with a Bang Against Croatia

In the words of her teammate, Leylah Annie Fernandez was the MVP for Canada in their opening tie against Croatia, picking up an impressive singles win over 2024 Olympic silver medalist and Wimbledon semifinalist Donna Vekic before clinching the tie 2-1 with Auger-Aliassime in the doubles.

Fernandez was rock solid in both matches, never dropping serve in either one. In the opening singles match, the Canadian made her move late in both sets, breaking to take the first set and then scoring the break in the eighth game of the second, which set up Fernandez to serve out a 6-4, 6-3 win, her first of the 2025 season.

Auger-Aliassime had a more difficult start, suffering a heart-breaking three-set loss to Borna Coric. The Canadian won the first eight games of the match to take the first set and go up a break in the second. He was five points away from victory when he was serving at 4-3, AD-40 in the second set but Coric was able to turn the tide, breaking back and ultimately taking the match in three sets 0-6, 6-4, 6-4.

If Auger-Aliassime was shaken after letting his lead in singles slip away, he did not show it in the doubles. Fernandez and Auger-Aliassime dominated the deciding match against Lucija Ciric Bagaric and Ivan Dodig, never facing a break point while converting one of their own midway through each set to seal the tie for Canada with a 6-3, 6-4 win.

Canada Falls Short Against USA Despite Auger-Aliassime’s Upset

After his gutting defeat the previous day, Auger-Aliassime bounced back brilliantly in Canada’s second group stage tie against the United States, upsetting world No. 4 Taylor Fritz with a comeback win of his own.

The victory was the lone bright spot on the day for Canada as the Americans ultimately won the tie 2-1.

Auger-Aliassime found himself on the other side of the same situation as his match against Coric, trailing by a set and a break late into the second set against Fritz. The American served for the match at 5-4 in the second but Auger-Aliassime was able to break. The Canadian won the last four games of the second set in a row to force a decider. One break midway through the third was enough for Auger-Aliassime to seal the upset 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

His victory over the world No. 4 was Auger-Aliassime’s biggest win by ranking since the 2022 ATP Finals when he beat world No. 2 Rafael Nadal. It was his seventh win against a Top 5 opponent.

Auger-Aliassime needed to win the men’s singles match after Fernandez lost the opening match of the tie to WTA world No. 3 Coco Gauff in straight sets. Unlike her opening match where she cruised on serve, the Canadian found herself under constant pressure up against the speedy American. The Lavalloise was broken twice in each set as she was beaten 6-3, 6-2.

The four singles players were back out to decide the tie in the doubles, which the Americans narrowly snuck out in two tight sets 7-6(2), 7-5.

A victory over the Americans would have clinched Group A for Canada. However, their fate was left uncertain after the completion of their two ties. Canada could have still won Group A but the United States victory over Croatia on Tuesday won the group for the Americans. The best runner-up of the three groups playing in Perth also advanced to the quarter-finals, but Canada finished second among those teams behind China. As a result, Team Canada was eliminated in the group stage for the second time in two appearances at the United Cup.