Incredible scenes of sportsmanship amid US Open heartbreak
The opening night of the US Open has witnessed one of the most beautiful acts of sportsmanship in recent memory.
Canadian youngsters and close friends Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime were battling it out in the first round on Tuesday (AEST).
But with 19-year-old Shapovalov leading 7-5, 5-7, 4-1, disaster struck when 18-year-old Auger-Aliassime was forced to call it quits.
🇨🇦Felix Auger-Aliassime laying down on the court. Calls for a trainer.
Shapovalov clearly concerned about his friend and opponent. Felix grabbing at his heart.
Scary scene in New York right now. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/Adimyd6piR
— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) August 27, 2018
Auger-Aliassime had already had been visited by the tournament doctor during the third set, complaining that his heart was racing.
He has reportedly had problems with his heart before and was diagnosed with tachycardia in 2017, which forced him to retire from a Challenger event in Guadeloupe.
In distressing scenes, Auger-Aliassime broke down in tears as he was forced to retire.
He went around the net to inform Shapovalov what was going on and was greeted with a huge hug from his countryman.
Auger-Aliassime wept in Shapovalov’s arms as the crowd erupted with applause at the incredible moment of sportsmanship.
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Shapovalov then sat with Auger-Aliassime and offered him some encouraging words.
“We’ll be back and we’ll be playing the finals,” Shapovalov told his devastated friend.
“We'll be back and we’ll be playing the finals.”
Kind words from Denis Shapovalov to Félix Auger-Aliassime, after the 18-year-old from Montreal was forced to retire from their first-round match.
Absolute sportsmanship — and more than that: friendship.
— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) August 27, 2018
Shapovalov. "I told him to don't worry cause we're gonna comeback year many times".
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 27, 2018
Shapovalov consoles Auger-Aliassime who is forced to retire at 5-7, 7-5, 1-4 pic.twitter.com/8h1L1mXViG
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) August 27, 2018
Heartbreaking scenes at the end of the Shapovalov v Auger-Aliassime match as Felix is forced to retire in 3rd set … the 18-year-old was dealing with racing heart rate & also feeling faint … Denis, 19, embraced & consoled his good friend who was in tears …
🇨🇦💔
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) August 28, 2018
Felix now asking his box if he should quit. And he does. Shapovalov through 7-5, 5-7, 4-1.
Aliassime in tears as the match ends. Shapovalov gives him a big hug and tells him it's all gonna work out.
Can't get anymore emotional for a first round encounter. #USOpen
— Tennis Connected (@TennisConnected) August 27, 2018
“It’s actually really tough to see him going out like this,” Shapovalov said afterwards.
“I told him at the net we’re going to be back here, we’re going to play so many of these.”