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For an angel who has grown up in a relentless spotlight, the first thing you notice about Felix Auger-Aliasims is the feeling of peace. He is an extremely polite, pristine white tracksuit, perfectly tailored to match the luster of his eyes, but even that pale against the army that Canadians wear in court. A week ago, in the spiritual home of Roger Federers ’Hall, Auger-Aliassime came from a set country to win. His youthful strength was matched to skillful precision. Two decades of Federers ’basic victory against Pete Sampras, this was not quite a flashlight in passing, but it is clear to see the royal qualities and affinity for the grass that Auger Aliassime has inherited from his idol. It was a special moment in the short history of my career, he says.
Auger-Aliassime, which turns August 21 in August, can still be seen as a rising star on tour, but this short history already has plenty of recognition. At a younger age, he won the US Open in both singles and doubles and demonstrated the dexterity of his technique by reaching the finals with clay in the French Open as well. At just 14 years old, he became the youngest player to win major draws on the ATP Challenger Tour, followed by breaking into the top 200 just three years later, making him the youngest since Rafael Nadal. For the outside world, after such exceptional exploits, Auger-Aliassimes ’position as a challenger at Wimbledon this week was inevitable until he was pre-determined.
However, success can also mask the burden of pressure. His debut at the age of 18 here two years ago was startled by expectations from Auger-Aliassi, who would waste a match point in a third-round match against Ugo Humbert and survive quickly, racket in his hand with a stranger in his hand to the end. He later went on to describe his performance as quite embarrassing.
The first time I was at Wimbledon, it was pretty nerve-wracking, he says. I was a little overwhelmed by the attention and pressure put on me. I feel like I’ve now learned to deal with it better, an outside expectation of what people might say or what I see in the media. I just feel like the process you’re learning. Two years ago, I just didn’t feel inside me, I felt a little too nervous. Now I am relieved and relaxed. I want to appear and take care of myself, and these things are clearer in my mind.
If there can be one criticism of Auger-Aliasssimes, it’s his record on a bigger stage. He has achieved eight ATP finals during his career, which is an amazing achievement in itself, but one inevitably wrong that he has failed to get the title every time. To remedy this, he has sought the help of Toni Nadal, Uncle Raphael and the former coach to streamline the whirlwind of thoughts and feelings that make up each match, but insists that these losses do not cover his overall progress. While it took years for Federer and Nadal to take advantage of the fiery streaks that often characterize their youth, Auger-Aliassime uses its maturity as a defense mechanism.
It’s not that straightforward sometimes. It can be weeks or months when you’re a little less confident, and it’s very normal to accept it, he says. The road I want to go on, the road to excellence, is not a straight line, it’s a bit of a roller coaster and there are ups and downs. We are all human, we all have no doubts, but times when you ask, what did I do wrong? There have been some great moments, and some are difficult, but that’s just the story of tennis. It’s a kind of story about my life: always questioning how to heal.
Auger-Aliassime credits his work ethic and perspective to his father, a Togolese director who moved to Canada from Togo. He had very few opportunities and was able to do better in his life and wish for a better life for his children, he says. The message for me was always to work hard and be consistent, and he taught me that from a really young age. I keep it all my life, it’s the most important thing, and never lose faith that you can do good things.
His mother, a school teacher, made sure that Auger-Aliassime was able to break down the pressures of growing tennis so he could appreciate other moments. In reality, the foundation of his success, long before he was told the face of a new generation, has been that hard work has never felt sacrificed. For Auger-Aliasssime, tennis is at its most basic level a source of joy, not a profession. Yet in these glittering early stages of his career, quality alone maintains one of the sport’s brightest abilities.
I love what I do, and I have the privilege of being able to play tennis this way in my life at such a young age, he says. It’s like getting the job of your dreams 18. There’s nothing better.
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