Since Félix Auger-Aliassime took his first steps as a professional, he has been tipped as a future world number 1. The American John McEnroe, one of the glories of the 1980s, notably affirmed on several occasions that he saw him as the eventual monarch of the circuit.
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Fruit of his three consecutive titles gleaned in October, in Antwerp, Florence and Basel, the Quebecer has since this morning occupied sixth place in the world, a personal peak.
He was 13e a few weeks ago, after an expedited exit at the United States Open
Photo: AFP
Félix Auger-Aliassime did try to respond to Holger Rune, in the semi-final of the Paris tournament, on Saturday, but the Dane won, en route to the title.
If these 16 victories in a row – he also reached the semi-final of the Masters 1000 in Paris, which he lost on Saturday – confirm the 22-year-old’s place among the world elite, Félix does not hide it. He wants more.
“I agree with John,” Auger-Aliassime said during a virtual conference yesterday. Without skipping steps, without putting too much pressure on myself, I think I have what it takes to eventually be world number 1 in my career. »
“I’m more and more convinced, and the people around me are too, that I have what it takes to be one. Well, of course, then I have to deliver the goods, which is never easy,” he smiled.
keep climbing
Already, Quebec pride hopes to take advantage of the ATP Finals, which will be played in Turin next week, to continue to climb the rankings.
“I have one tournament left to improve my ranking this year,” he pointed out. I will do my best to finish as high as possible and hope to continue this way next year and go even higher. »
He believes in the title
The tournament will bring together the eight best players of the season, with the exception of the world number 1, Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard withdrew, he who suffers from an injury to the abdominal muscles, and will be replaced by the American Taylor Fritz.
But this extremely raised table does not frighten Félix. He had made this presence in Italy one of the objectives of his season. He now believes he has what it takes to claim the title.
“All the players who participate, I have already faced them, I have beaten them. So for me, there’s no reason why I’m not showing up to this tournament with the goal of winning it,” he said.
The only present in Turin that Auger-Aliassime has never beaten are the Spaniard Rafael Nadal, the Russian Daniil Medvedev and Fritz.
Félix also recently defeated Serbian Novak Djokovic at the Laver Cup.
A victory which gave the Quebecer a lot of confidence and which had contributed to his good push in recent weeks, had pointed out his coach Frédéric Fontang at the Loglast week.
“It’s one of the most difficult tournaments to win, because only the best in the world participate in it,” agreed the young athlete. But there is no reason, in my opinion, not to aspire to victory. »
Short celebrations
But before heading for Italy on Wednesday, Auger-Aliassime will take a few days off.
A little time to celebrate, too. With these matches following one another at a frantic pace for a month, he has not yet had time to fully savor his successes.
“The real celebration, I think, is now,” he said.
Beautiful constancy
Because if he would obviously have liked to achieve the quadruple, by winning a first title in the Masters 1000 category in Paris, Félix remains proud of the level at which he played.
“Not in all matches, but in some matches I think I played my best tennis, so I’m happy with that. »
“But also my consistency in my victories, my results. That’s what I’m most proud of. »
Disappointments that paid off
Photo archives, AFP
Félix Auger-Aliassime’s journey has not always been smooth and he has learned from his defeats.
It is not so far away, the time when Félix Auger-Aliassime chained disappointments in the final. Before winning the first title of his career in Rotterdam in February, the 22-year-old suffered eight consecutive defeats in an ultimate game.
A weight was then lifted from the shoulders of the Quebecer. But those “hard to accept” defeats weren’t too far in his memory during his recent hat-trick.
“All the finals I’ve played lately, I played them as if they were the most important of my career, with enormous motivation and concentration, mentioned Félix yesterday. Losing a few has meant that I don’t take any of them for granted. »
Not afraid to lose
Throughout his 16 consecutive victories, Auger-Aliassime has been described as “unshakable”, “unbeatable”, “invincible”. With the wins also came the pressure. The eyes of the tennis world were on him.
But the new sixth in the world affirms it: he has never been haunted by the fear that this superb sequence will stop. Although he admits that the idea crossed his mind after his second title, won in Antwerp, Belgium.
“I started asking myself the question: ‘Is it going to stop this week?’ Or: “Will I still win and come to Paris undefeated?” »
In the end, the second option prevailed.
“But I had no stress at the idea of losing at one point, he continued. I’ve lost many matches in the past, so it wasn’t a problem. »
Mission accomplished
His Saturday setback against the young Dane Holger Rune, eventual champion in the French capital against none other than Serbian Novak Djokovicdidn’t seem to be a problem yesterday either.
After all, Felix can say mission accomplished. If he has had ups and downs this season, the first have compensated for the latter.
Here is the Quebecer well established in the world top 10, titled on the ATP and holder of a ticket for the Final of the circuit. Three goals he set at the start of the season.