Cramps take FAA out in the first round of the Australian Open

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MELBOURNE, Australia – Félix Auger-Aliassime had just been talking about how, for a change, he was actually starting this 2026 season pretty healthy.

And then, just two sets into his first-round Australian Open match against the capable Nuno Borges, the cramps hit.

Both hamstrings. Both calves.

And – despite not having much experience at the pro level with cramp but knowing that it was going to get worse before it got better – he waved the white flag and retired two points into the fourth set, down two sets to one after rather routinely winning the first.

As he put it, he didn’t want to be a “sack of potatoes” out there.

Auger-Aliassime wasn’t the only Canadian to get taken down by cramps on Monday; Marina Stakusic, in her Australian Open main draw debut, ended up being wheeled off the court when they cramps hit late in the third set of her match against Aussie wild card Priscilla Hon.

Here’s what Auger-Aliassime had to say about it.

Auger-Aliassime had some cramping issues by the third set of his US Open semifinal against Jannik Sinner.

But that was after a long two weeks – a long summer. Having this happen in the first round is something he’s going to have to try to find answers for.

It was hot on Monday in Melbourne – but it’s been a lot hotter. About 30C at peak, with the heat index actually lower than that because there was some breeze, and the humidity was below 30 per cent.

So it’s a huge disappointment, needless to say. He had been pretty hopeful about this tournament, despite the fact that the prelims were shortened a little by him getting sick in Sydney. It’s place he’s made some runs before.

But it wasn’t to be.

With Diallo, Tabilo and Draxl all out, Denis Shapovalov is the only Canadian left on the men’s side. And it’s only the first Monday.