Felix Auger-Aliassime found himself in an unusual position at the 2025 US Open. Not only had he reached his second Grand Slam semifinal, but he also faced the dilemma of potentially postponing his wedding. When a reporter asked which would be more nerve-wracking – making the semifinals or walking down the aisle – the 25-year-old Canadian’s answer revealed how special both moments really are.
What Did Felix Auger-Aliassime Say About His Wedding at the US Open Press Conference?
Auger-Aliassime’s response showed both his honesty and his excitement about the upcoming nuptials. The comparison between tennis pressure and wedding day nerves clearly resonated with him.
“Good question,” he said, with a smile. “I don’t know. [The] good thing is, I was in a semifinal before, walking down the aisle, I’ve never done so when it’s a first, it’s a special feeling for sure. People who are married for sure can relate, so I’m looking forward to it,” Auger-Aliassime said. He then admitted the reality of wedding planning: “In terms of the planning, I have to give her credit, she’s done a lot, I’m not going to sit here and say that I was involved just as much as she was.”
Then the Canadian addressed the elephant in the room: postponing the wedding due to his extended US Open run. His tournament success had created an unexpected scheduling conflict that many athletes face when personal milestones collide with professional achievements.
“But the wedding, we’ll see, I haven’t thought about it much yet, but obviously, probably going to have to postpone it, it’s a quick turnaround,” he said.
The story behind Auger-Aliassime’s romance adds another layer to this moment. He has been in a relationship with Nina Ghaibi since March 2019, when they met at just 18 years old. Ghaibi, a professional equestrian from Croatia, was introduced to the Canadian tennis star through her cousin, Australian tennis player Ajla TomljanoviÄ.
Couldn’t have dreamt of a better forever š„°ā¤ļøš pic.twitter.com/GSAe9aEjea
ā FĆ©lix AugerAliassime (@felixtennis) November 29, 2024
The couple announced their engagement in November 2024, sharing beautiful photos with Auger-Aliassime writing, “Couldn’t have dreamt of a better forever.” Their wedding was originally planned just a couple of weeks after the US Open, but the Canadian’s deep tournament run created the problem most athletes would love to have.
How Has Auger-Aliassime’s 2025 US Open Run Changed Everything?
This semifinal appearance carries extra weight for Auger-Aliassime. His previous semifinal came at the 2021 US Open, where he lost to eventual champion Daniil Medvedev. The Canadian has never reached a Grand Slam final, making his current run particularly significant. He has also reached the quarterfinal stage at Wimbledon 2021Ā and the Australian Open 2022.
His path to the 2025 US Open semifinals showcased his improved mental toughness and tactical awareness. After defeating Billy HarrisĀ and Roman Safiullin in the opening rounds, Auger-Aliassime delivered the tournament’s most considerable upset by taking down third-seeded Alexander ZverevĀ in the third round, winning 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-4, 6-4.
The momentum continued with a convincing victory over 15th-seeded Andrey Rublev in the fourth round, where Auger-Aliassime won 7-5, 6-3, 6-4. His quarterfinal battle against eighth-seeded Alex de Minaur proved his most grueling test yet. The match lasted over four hours, with the Canadian showing incredible resilience to prevail 4-6, 7-6(7), 7-5, 7-6(4).
Now comes the ultimate challenge: facing world number one and defending champion Jannik SinnerĀ in the semifinals. The matchup presents interesting dynamics, as Auger-Aliassime actually leads their head-to-head record despite Sinner’s recent dominance. However, their most recent meeting tells a different story – Sinner demolished the Canadian 6-0, 6-2 in CincinnatiĀ just three weeks before the US Open.
Despite that lopsided result, Auger-Aliassime enters this semifinal with renewed confidence. His victories over three top-15 opponentsĀ during this tournament run have shown he can rise to the occasion against elite competition. The question now becomes whether he can channel that form against the world’s best player while managing the additional pressure of knowing his wedding plans hang in the balance.
