The Semifinals of the Australian Open will begin on Wednesday night and we have some great matches to look forward to. Serena Williams will face Naomi Osaka in the first semifinal match that is set to get underway around 9 p.m. ET then we'll have Karolina Muchova facing Jennifer Brady around 11:15 p.m. ET. Here is everything you need to know to catch all the action this evening and for the rest of the tournament. Serena Williams vs Naomi Osaka When: Wednesday, February 17 Live Coverage: 9:00 p.m. ET TV Channel: ESPN2 Live Stream: fuboTV (<doc-sep>Canadian tennis player Felix Auger-Aliassime was forced to pull out of the first-round of the 2018 U.S. Open due to health concerns brought on by the heat. After splitting the first two sets of his opening match with fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov on Monday, Auger-Aliassime tearfully retired from the tournament in the midst of the third set. The 18-year-old was suffering from tachycardia —a.k.a. an elevated heart rate—a condition that previously forced him to drop out of a 2017 Challenger event and is often exacerbated by heat. Auger-Aliassime was clearly distraught over the results of his U.S. Open debut. However, Shapovalov was nothing but supportive of his opponent and even shared an emotional embrace with him at the net. “It’s actually really tough to see him going out like this,” Shapovalov said. “I told him at the net we’re going to be back here, we’re going to play so many of these.” Get The Brief. Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now. Please enter a valid email address. * The request timed out and you did not successfully sign up. Please attempt to sign up again. Sign Up Now An unexpected error has occurred with your sign up. Please try again later. Check the box if you do not wish to receive promotional offers via email from TIME. You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Thank you! For your security, we've sent a confirmation email to the address you entered. Click the link to confirm your subscription and begin receiving our newsletters. If you don't get the confirmation within 10 minutes, please check your spam folder. Write to Megan McCluskey at megan.mccluskey@time.com.<doc-sep>Rising Canadian star Felix Auger-Aliassime has revealed how he felt after getting drawn to meet fellow compatriot and great friend Denis Shapovalov in the US Open first round, in what will be his Grand Slam debut. Auger-Aliassime, 18, won three qualifying matches to clinch a spot in the US Open main draw. Auger-Aliassime and world No. 28 Shapovalov have no previous meeting at the ATP level -- but the two met a year ago at the Drummondville Challenger -- when 19-year-old Shapovalov took the win. Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov are considered to be one of the most talented and promising players in the world -- who are each predicted to win multiple Grand Slam titles and reach the No. 1 spot. "I cracked a smile because the chances for sure were pretty low. I saw that he was playing a qualifier and I was like 'OK, there's 1-out-16 per cent chance I play him.' You know, and we get to play...It's against the odds, but I guess that how it's. For sure it's gonna be exciting. I think the fans in Canada would have liked to see us maybe play further in the draw...in the second week or something like this. It's a good first round, it's gonna be a great battle and the better will win," Auger-Aliassime told TSN ahead of his match against Shapovalov. Auger-Aliassime has confirmed that he and No. 28 Auger-Aliassime have been trash-talking each other ahead of their match. "He sent the first trash talk -- I responded," Auger-Aliassime revealed when asked who's doing more trash talking ahead of the match. However, Auger-Aliassime also added that "nothing has really changed" and though they will put their friendship aside when they meet on the court -- everything will get back to normal after they finish the match. Also read: Nick Kyrgios, Frances Tiafoe confirmed for 2019 Delray Beach Open<doc-sep>SPECTATORS at the US Open were stunned when Felix Auger-Aliassime retired from his first round match against Denis Shapovalov after tearfully complaining about problems with his heart. The 18-year-old was inconsolable as he pulled out of the clash against his fellow Canadian during the third set. Shapovalov won the opener 7-5 before Auger-Aliassime hit back to win the second set by the same scoreline. On a hot day in New York, the teenager had called for the doctor after clutching at his heart and having difficulty breathing. There was real concern for him as he lay on the ground in obvious distress. He wanted to withdraw but his opponent — who is also a good friend — was full of encouragement for him. “Just try your best, keep going,” Shapovalov said. Auger-Aliassime kept pushing but it all became too much for him when down 4-1 in the third set. He said he felt faint and his heart was racing. The teenager was distraught as he pulled the plug, sobbing uncontrollably. But Shapovalov once again showed incredible sportsmanship, embracing him at the net as he tried to console his heartbroken foe. While they hugged, Shapovalov said: “You played a f***ing great match.” Auger-Aliassime apologised to the crowd as he left the court and Shapovalov continued his classy display in the face of the rival teenager’s nightmare. “It’s actually really tough to see him going out like this,” Shapovalov said. “I told him at the net we’re going to be back here, we’re going to play so many of these.” The genuine care and concern from Shapovalov as he talked about his friend Felix after that match is something I won’t forget for a long time. #USOpen — Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) August 27, 2018 Early reports suggest Auger-Aliassime has had problems with his heart before after being diagnosed with “tachycardia”, which forced him to retire from a Challenger event in Guadeloupe in 2017. The scary incident on Tuesday (AEST) shocked tennis reporters who witnessed it. Follow up on 🇨🇦 Felix Auger-Aliassime...Monday's heart rate issue at US Open is something he has dealt with before.. Withdrew from Challenger in Guadeloupe last year... He was diagnosed with "tachycardia" when heart rate exceeds the normal resting rate... #USOpen — John Horn (@SportsHorn) August 28, 2018 Heartbreaking scene in New York as Felix Auger-Aliassime retires after heart issues at the #USOpen. Starts to cry as he comes together at the net with his Canadian friend and teammate, @denis_shapo pic.twitter.com/Ik4wc3FQCM — Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) August 27, 2018 Down 5-7, 7-5, 1-4 to Shapovalov, Auger Aliassime retires in tears. Hugs Denis. Horrendous moment. — José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 27, 2018 Auger-Aliassime has to shut it down, in tears; felt faint, and heart was racing. "Go get it man, good luck," he tells Shapovalov, who advances 75 57 41 ret. #USOpen — Steve Tignor (@SteveTignor) August 27, 2018 Felix Auger-Aliassime in tears as he retires in the third set against Denis Shapovalov. Denis goes to FAA’s chair to console him... super emotional moment. “I’m sorry,” FAA says to crowd as he walks off court #usopen pic.twitter.com/62cEr8AvPR — Nick McCarvel (@NickMcCarvel) August 27, 2018 World No. 28 Shapovalov, 19, is the youngest player in the ATP top 100. Auger-Aliassime, ranked 117 in the world, turned 18 on August 8, making him youngest player in the ATP top 200. Their combined age made this the youngest US Open men’s match since 2006, when Novak Djokovic, 19, beat Donald Young, 17. DASHA’S RUTHLESS STATEMENT Daria Gavrilova has delivered a US Open statement of intent to continue Australia’s promising start to the final grand slam event of the year. A near-flawless Gavrilova crushed Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-0 6-0 in just 51 minutes to join Ashleigh Barty and Open debutant Jason Kubler in the second round in New York. Gavrilova’s rare double-bagel victory vaulted the 25th seed into a potential showdown on Wednesday with two-time Australian Open champion and former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka. The 2010 US Open junior champion arrived at Flushing Meadows frustrated at having won just one match in six subsequent appearances in the women’s draw. And it was obvious from the outset Gavrilova was on a mission. The 24-year-old conceded just 12 points in the opening set and was even more ruthless in the second, dropping a meagre four points to clinch the most one- sided victory of her grand slam career. Barty earlier thumped Tunisian qualifier Ons Jabeur 6-1 6-3 in an equally impressive performance in sweltering day-one heat. Kubler’s 6-3 6-3 6-4 upset victory over 19th-seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista-Agut was the 25-year-old wildcard’s first grand slam win of his injury-plagued career. But James Duckworth and Jordan Thompson bowed out with gallant first-round defeats. Duckworth stretched Andy Murray to four sets only to fall 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 7-5 6-3 to the former world No. 1 and 2012 champion while Thompson lost to Brit Cameron Norrie 7-5 4-6 6-4 6-3. — with AAP To receive articles like this direct to your inbox, sign up for our sports newsletter here<doc-sep>
A touching moment played out between lifelong friends Monday night, when a teenage health scare first brought tears of dismay then an affectionate embrace and words of consolation. It also happened to decide a berth in the second round of the U.S. Open and be witnessed by thousands of paying customers at the Grandstand as the sun set on Day 1 in Queens. Felix Auger-Aliassime, an 18-year-old phenom from Canada, was forced to retire in the third set of an opening-round showdown with 19-year-old Denis Shapovalov, his dear friend and countryman, due to an elevated heart rate that produced weakness and discomfort. “It’s tough to see a friend go down like that,” said Shapovalov, the No. 28 seed. “It’s tough to keep pounding at it when he’s a brother to me. Obviously I want the best for him, for him to be healthy.” Auger-Aliassime, ranked No. 117 and the youngest player in the top 200, first received medical attention while trailing 5-7, 7-5, 0-2. The woman overseeing the treatment could be heard telling the umpire: “We’re trying to get his heart rate down.” Auger-Aliassime, under the watchful and worried eyes of his father and older sister in the front rows, labored on for three more games before retiring at 1-4. “My heart rate just wouldn’t go down,” a subdued Auger-Aliassime said several hours later. “I had palpitations for some reason. It’s something I’ve had before. We’re going to look deeper into it. “I was just not able to keep going. It was bad and I had to stop.” He broke down in tears as he approached the net. Shapovalov hugged Auger-Aliassime tightly and patted his head, saying: “Keep your head up. You played f–king great.” Shapovalov accompanied Auger-Aliassime to his chairs and sat with him as the younger player regained his composure. Courtside microphones picked up Auger-Aliassime telling Shapovalov: “My team said it’s just not worth it.” “I told him one day hopefully we’ll be playing in the final of this tournament,” Shapovalov said. “We’re going to have so many great matches.” That’s not an outlandish prediction for two of the most promising young players on the men’s side of the draw. Shapovalov made a scintillating run to the fourth round here last year as a qualifier and is now a fixture in the world top 30, even as he’s the youngest player in the top 100. Auger-Aliassime won the U.S. Open boys title in 2016 (including a win over this year’s main-draw No. 15 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas). More than that, said Shapovalov, they have been friends since he was 7 or 8, inseparable partners in Canada’s youth program and on the junior circuit — and the vanguard of a rising tennis power north of the border. “What me and Felix have is truly incredible,” Shapovalov said. “It’s truly making the sport bigger in our country, and hopefully we continue to do that.”