Auger-Ailassime upset by Fils in fourth round at Indian Wells

Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime returns to Australia's Alex de Minaur during the ABN AMRO ATP Tennis final in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)

INDIAN WELLS — Canadian tennis star Félix Auger-Aliassime was eliminated from singles play at the Indian Wells BNP Paribas Open after dropping a 6-3, 7-6 (9) decision to France’s Arthur Fils in fourth-round action Tuesday.

The 21-year-old Fils, seeded 30th at the 1000-level event, won 83 per cent of his service points and didn’t face a break point in the first set.

Montreal’s Auger-Aliassime, seeded ninth, put more pressure on Fils’s serve in the second set but only converted one of four break points.

Fils pounded his chest in triumph as Auger-Aliassime hit wide on match point.

Fils will next face the winner of a match between fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany and 21st-seeded American Frances Tiafoe.

In men’s doubles play, Auger-Aliassime and American Sebastian Korda lost to Russians Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev in the men’s round of 16 on Tuesday night.

Khachanov and Rublev won 7-6 (3), 4-6, 10-5 in one hour, 42 minutes to advance to the quarterfinals.

The Russians finished with seven aces and one double fault. They won eight of 11 service games and two of 11 return games. They saved one of four break points and won two of eight break points.

Auger-Aliassime and Korda had six aces and two double faults. They won nine of 11 service games and three of 11 return games. They saved six of eight break points and win three of four break points.

Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski and Brazil’s Luisa Stefani were set to play Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the U.S. and Spain’s Cristina Bucsa in the women’s quarterfinals.

In women’s round-of-16 singles action later Tuesday, 10th-seeded Victoria Mboko of Toronto was set to face sixth-seeded Amanda Anisimova of the United States.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 10, 2026.

The Canadian Press