Just 35 minutes of play: Casper Ruud laments Felix Auger-Aliassime’s injury with “very unfortunate” admission

Thursday, 15 October 2026 at 02:30

Casper Ruud advanced to the Shanghai Masters quarter-finals after Felix Auger-Aliassime was forced to retire injured, bringing their fourth-round match to an end after just 35 minutes of play. The Canadian appeared to experience a problem with his knee during the contest, leaving Ruud to progress under circumstances neither player would have wanted.

The match was still in its early stages when Auger-Aliassime began struggling physically. The fourth seed appeared to tweak his knee while serving at 1-2 in the second set, subsequently dropping five consecutive points to lose his serve. After calling for the physio and having his knee strapped, he eventually decided he could not continue.

Auger-Aliassime retired while trailing 2-5 in the second set, with the score at 15-15 in the game. The sudden ending denied both players the opportunity to finish the match on court, while Ruud secured a place in the last eight of the tournament for the first time in his career.

The Norwegian was understandably disappointed by the circumstances, particularly given the importance of the match for both players. He also identified a possible moment when the injury occurred, although he acknowledged that he had not seen the incident clearly while concentrating on the ball.

Ruud reacts to Auger-Aliassime’s injury retirement

Ruud explained that he noticed something seemed wrong with his opponent after a movement near the net early in the match. The Canadian appeared to take an awkward step, and the Norwegian said the situation looked increasingly serious from that point onwards.

“Honestly, I mean, there's not that much to say. It was very unfortunate for him. It seemed to me that he maybe twisted his knee in the fourth game of the match,” Ruud said.

“He came to the net, and I kind of, I didn't see it a hundred per cent because I'm focusing on the ball, but it looked like he kind of stumbled a bit with a wrong step. From that moment, it seemed like he was in a lot of pain, which is very unfortunate.”

The retirement also brought back memories of Ruud's own experience against Auger-Aliassime earlier in the season. At the Monte-Carlo Masters in April, the former world No. 2 was forced to withdraw from their match after suffering a calf injury. Auger-Aliassime was leading 7-5, 2-2 when Ruud could no longer continue, meaning the Norwegian found himself on the other side of a similar situation in Shanghai.

Ruud was quick to express sympathy for the Canadian, stressing that he understood how difficult it could be to abandon an important match because of an injury. “I'm very sorry for him, because it's a big match for both of us," the 3-time Grand Slam champion said. "I know what kind of player he is, what kind of person he is, very nice person, so you don't wish this for anybody. I hope he has a speedy recovery."

Ruud faces Rafael Jodar in Shanghai quarter-finals

Despite the disappointing circumstances of his victory, Ruud now has an opportunity to reach the semi-finals in Shanghai. The result also completes a notable milestone for the Norwegian, who has now reached at least the quarter-finals at all nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments. His next challenge will be Rafael Jodar, one of the emerging names on the tour.

Jodar has reached his fourth Masters 1000 quarter-final, continuing an impressive season that has attracted attention across the tennis world. The Spaniard and Ruud have not faced each other in an official match, although they recently spent time together as teammates representing Team Europe at the Laver Cup in London.

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Ruud acknowledged that their lack of head-to-head history makes the upcoming encounter difficult to predict. However, their practice sessions at the Laver Cup have given him some familiarity with the young Spaniard, whom he praised for his progress during the season.

“We are both in the same situation, I didn't play him, he didn't play me, so we don't really know. But we will both do our best to come out on top. I'm sure it will be a good match if we both play well,” Ruud said.

The Norwegian also described Jodar as a very promising young player and said he was looking forward to facing him. After reaching the quarter-finals in Shanghai for the first time, Ruud will now aim to turn an unfortunate retirement into an opportunity to progress further, with a place in the semi-finals at stake.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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