From a potential candidate for Grand Slam victory to oblivion, or almost. This is the extent Of the downgrade suffered by Félix Auger-Aliassime since his so promising end to the 2022 season. At the time, the Canadian had won three indoor titles in a row, reached 6th place in the world and participated in his first Masters. Since then, unfortunately, he had almost disappeared from the radar until… this week in Madrid. For the first time since Bercy in 2022 and for the third time in his career, he made his way into the final four of a Masters 1000.
This return to the forefront of the current 35th player in the world is all the more remarkable as few things have suggested it recently, at least in terms of results. Of course, there was this title retained in Basel last fall, but in 2024, “F2A” had not surfed on this start of positive momentum. His best result? A quarter-final in Munich lost to the future winner of the tournament, Jan-Lennard Struff. But he had still not managed to win four matches in a row this year, like in the Spanish capital where he beat Casper Ruud, what’s more, one of the players in form at the moment on clay (finalist at Monte -Carlo and titled in Barcelona).
Struff calmly wins against Auger-Aliassime: video highlights of the match
His knee injury behind him, he has regained physical density
“It’s a huge pleasure, a very important victory for me. This year was complicated at times but I started playing better and better in training and putting good things in place with my teamconfided Félix Auger-Aliassime after his round of 16 against the Norwegian. It’s a real pleasure to see the work bear fruit. Casper has had the better of me in our last few fights (he won their three most recent duels, NLR). He is a fantastic player and his stats demonstrate how good and consistent he is, especially on clay. I knew it would be a tough match, and it was. I played excellent tennis and I am very happy to have had the upper hand.”
The Canadian remained on four defeats against members of the Top 10. He therefore broke this bad series by winning his 15th success against a representative of this prestigious elite, but only the 2nd in a year and a half – he had also beaten Holger Rune in Basel in October 2023. And the main interested party added: “This sport is a marathon. My team and I are working to build a better level of play. Sometimes things don’t go your way, I’ve had some close defeats in recent weeks. But this time it worked out in my favor, so I’m happy to be able to show off what I’ve been working on. I hit backhands much better, I serve well, I am more regular and solid on my second ball.”
Facing Ruud as since the start of the tournament, Auger-Aliassime appeared much more dense, compact and explosive than in the recent past. This return to form is primarily due to his once again optimal physical condition. Last December, he told us during an exclusive interview how much his left knee had hampered his travels in 2023, preventing him from practicing his puncher’s tennis as he would have liked. Often late, he then accumulated errors, defeats and ended up losing confidence.
Toni is no longer actively part of the team but he still provides good advice
But even back on its feet in 2024, it took time and work to rebuild it. To do this, Auger-Aliassime chose to rely on those close to him. “My coach, Frédéric (Fontang), is there for the tournament. There is also my physio, friends and a training partner. Toni (Nadal) is at home. So far we are traveling with this team. My father accompanied me more and more this season, indoors, then in Monte-Carlo and Munich. So my dad is also a big help sometimes, and he’s going to be at Roland Garros. Until further notice, I am still in contact with Toni, but he is no longer actively part of the team. It’s always good advice, it’s good to add an outside opinion with experience“, he detailed at a press conference in Madrid.
While he seemed to want Toni Nadal to accompany him more this year a few months ago, the Canadian changed his mind, to concentrate on a team invested in daily work. The method seems to be paying off. And even if he owes his presence in the last four to the withdrawal of Jannik Sinner, seeing him again in the quarter of the Masters 1000 for the first time since Indian Wells 2023 was all the more significant as a priori clay is not its best surface.
With a first ball found and an ultra-efficient forehand, “F2A” in any case makes excellent use of the altitude conditions which make the balls “fly” in the Caja Magica. So why not push the adventure further towards a first Masters 1000 final? Once again virtually in the Top 30 and in seed position for Roland-Garros, he may have finally found his second wind.
