Since Félix Auger-Aliassime took his first steps as a professional, he has been regarded as the future number 1 in the world. American John McEnroe, one of the men of fame of the 1980s, has asserted on several occasions that he sees him as the eventual monarch of the county.
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As a result of his three consecutive titles won in Antwerp, Florence and Basel in October, the Quebecer is sixth in the world as of Monday morning, a personal high.
He was 13th a few weeks ago after a hasty exit from the United States Open.
If these 16 consecutive victories – he also reached the semi-finals of the Masters 1000 in Paris, which he lost on Saturday – confirm the 22-year-old’s place in the world elite, Félix does not hide it. He wants more.
“I agree with John,” Auger-Aliassime said during a virtual conference on Sunday. Without skipping steps, without putting too much pressure on myself, I think I have what it takes to become world no. 1 at some point in my career. »
“I and the people around me are becoming more and more convinced that I have what it takes. Well, then of course I have to deliver the goods, that’s never easy,” he smiles.
keep climbing
Quebec Pride is already hoping to use the ATP Finals, to be played in Turin next week, to climb further up the rankings.
“I still have one tournament left this year to improve my placement,” he said. I’ll do my best to finish as best as I can and hope to continue like this next year and get even higher. »
He believes in the title
The tournament brings together the eight best players of the season, excluding world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard, suffering from an abdominal muscle injury, is eliminated and replaced by USA’s Taylor Fritz.
But this extremely elevated table does not deter Félix. He had made this presence in Italy one of his goals for the season. He now believes he has what it takes to claim the title.
“All the players who participate, I’ve already fought them, I’ve beaten them. So for me there is no reason why I can’t come to this tournament with the aim of winning it,” he said.
The only people present in Turin who have never been beaten by Auger-Aliassime are Spain’s Rafael Nadal, Russia’s Daniil Medvedev and Fritz.
Félix also recently defeated Serbian Novak Djokovic at the Laver Cup.
A victory that gave the Quebecer a lot of confidence and that had contributed to his good run in recent weeks, his coach Frédéric Fontang pointed out to the Journal last week.
“It’s one of the hardest tournaments to win because only the best in the world compete,” agreed the young athlete. But in my opinion there is no reason not to aim for victory. »
Short celebrations
But before going to Italy on Wednesday, Auger-Aliassime is taking a few days off.
A little time to celebrate too. With those games following each other at breakneck speed for a month, he hasn’t had time to fully enjoy his achievements.
“The real celebration, I think, is now,” he said.
Nice consistency
Because although he obviously would have liked to have quadrupled by winning a first title in the Masters 1000 category in Paris, Félix remains proud of the level at which he has played.
“Not in all games, but in some games 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
It’s not that far away anymore, 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 straight defeats in an ultimate game.
Then a weight was lifted from the Quebecer’s shoulders. But those “hard-to-accept” defeats weren’t something he remembered too well during his most recent hat-trick.
“All the finals I’ve played lately I played as if they were the most important of my career, with enormous motivation and concentration,” said Félix on Sunday. Losing a few has meant I don’t take any of them for granted. »
Don’t be afraid to lose
During his 16 straight wins, Auger-Aliassime has been described as “unflappable”, “unbeatable”, “invincible”. With the wins came the pressure. The eyes of the tennis world were on him.
But the new sixth in the world asserts: he was never afraid that this grandiose episode would end. Although he admits the idea came to his mind after his second title, which he won in Antwerp, Belgium.
“I started asking myself, ‘Will it stop this week?’ Or: “Will I still win and come to Paris undefeated?” »
In the end, the second option prevailed.
“But I wasn’t stressed about losing at some point,” he continued. I’ve lost a lot of games in the past so it wasn’t a problem. »
mission accomplished
His setback on Saturday against the young Dane Holger Rune, later champion in the French capital against none other than the Serbian Novak Djokovic (see other text above), did not seem to be a problem on Sunday either.
At least Felix can say mission accomplished. If he’s had ups and downs this season, the former have compensated for the latter.
Here the Quebecer is established in the top 10 in the world, titled on the ATP and holder of a ticket to the circuit finals. He scored three goals at the start of the season.