Seventh-seeded Auger-Aliassime forced to retire in first round at Australian Open

By Canadian Press on January 18, 2026.

MELBOURNE — It’s been a rough start for Canada’s men at the 2026 Australian Open.

A day after Gabriel Diallo of Montreal and Liam Draxl of Newmarket, Ont., lost their opening-round singles matches, Felix Auger-Aliassime was one and done Down Under as well.

Auger-Aliassime, seeded seventh in the major tournament, beat 28-year-old Nuno Borges of Portugal 6-3 in the opener of their best-of-five match on Monday, but then lost 6-4, 6-4 and then retired with the score tied 15-15 in the first game of the fourth set.

Borges advances to play the winner of a first-round match between Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina and Australian wild card Jordan Thompson.

Victoria Mboko of Toronto was scheduled to play Emerson Jones of Australia in the first round of women’s singles later in the day.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 18, 2026.

The Canadian Press