Tennis player Zverev encounters another setback in a major tournament.

In the pulsating third round of the US Open Tennis Tournament in New York, German star Alexander Zverev came agonisingly close to clinching his first Grand Slam title but ultimately fell short against Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Zverev, who had reached at least the quarterfinals in his last four appearances at the US Open, seemed poised for glory as he fought valiantly against Auger-Aliassime. However, a net roller in the first set helped the Canadian level the game, denying Zverev a 2-0 lead in sets.

The match was a tense affair, with Zverev appearing increasingly puzzled as he struggled to break Auger-Aliassime's serve after the first set. Despite this, Zverev had a chance to take a 2-1 lead in sets, but a strong performance from Auger-Aliassime saw him level the game once more.

The second set was a nail-biting affair, with both players showing their prowess on the court. Zverev took a short break after losing the second set, but upon his return, he could not regain his footing, and Auger-Aliassime went on to win the set.

The third set was no different, with Auger-Aliassime maintaining his momentum and securing a 6-4 victory. The match duration was 3:48 hours, and Zverev's loss means he must continue to wait for his first Grand Slam title.

Zverev's performance was not without incident, as he was seen getting angry and slamming his racket on the ground during the match. Despite struggling with back issues throughout the tournament, which he mentioned after his second-round win, Zverev did not call for a physiotherapist before his elimination.

Meanwhile, Jan-Lennard Struff will face Serbian record Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the round of 16. Struff is the only remaining German in the singles competitions, and Djokovic played against him in the round of the last 16 at the US Open 2025, winning the match in straight sets, 6:3, 6:3, 6:2.

In another disappointing turn of events, German player Daniel Altmaier had to retire from the tournament due to thigh problems. Laura Siegemund also suffered a 0:6, 1:6 defeat against Jekaterina Alexandrova.

In terms of statistics, Auger-Aliassime had 50 direct winning shots compared to Zverev's 29, highlighting the Canadian's dominance in the match. Zverev's father, brother, and girlfriend watched the match anxiously, no doubt feeling a sense of heartbreak as their hopes for a Grand Slam title were dashed.

As the US Open continues, the focus now shifts to Struff and his upcoming match against Djokovic. The German will need to pull out all the stops if he hopes to replicate Zverev's previous successes and continue Germany's run in the tournament.