
Felix Auger Aliassime hits a forehand during the Boys Singles final match against Geoffrey Blancaneaux on day fifteen of the 2016 French Open (Source: Dennis Grombkowsk/zimbio.com)
It isn’t very often that a 15-year-old make headlines on the ATP Tour. Then against Felix Auger-Aliassime is far from the ordinary as Tennis Canada plans to elevate him to the highest level of the sport.
In 2015 the Canadian achieved a duo of milestones in Challenger Tour history. After becoming one of the youngest players to qualify for the main draw of a tournament, in July he became the youngest player in history to win a main draw match when he reached the quarter-finals at the Granby Challenger.
The success has continued into this year. Currently No.2 in the junior world rankings, Auger-Aliassime recently reached the final at the boys’ French Open. His bid for the biggest title in his young career ended in disappointment after he was edged out in three close sets by unseeded french player Geoffrey Blancaneaux (1-6, 6-3, 8-6). The run in Paris came a month after the 15-year-old reached his first final on the Futures tour in Lleida, Spain.
There is no doubt that the Montreal-born player is a potential star in the making and Tennis Canada is eager to get the ball rolling. Two months shy of his 16th birthday, the teenager is ready to stop playing in juniors and move to the senior tour according to the vice-president of Tennis Canada, Louis Borfigahas.
“We will not admit him in junior due to his performance,” he said.
“Next year we will register the majority of his tournaments in the pros. When he plays like this at (almost) 16 years, you have to focus as much as possible on the professionals.”
It has also been confirmed that Felix-Aliassime will play at the upcoming Rogers Cup in Toronto. It is expected that he will be awarded a wildcard into the qualifying tournament according to Borfigahas.
Eager to not take things too quickly, there is still much more development needed in the Canadian’s game according to the Tennis Canada official.
“He must improve in my opinion, all his shots: he must return better, attack more regular with his forehand. He must also gain experience. he has many things to work on and that’s normal: he’s only 15. And that’s good!” Borfigahas said.
Health fears
Concerns about the health of the 15-year-old start to circulated at the start of this year when it was reported that he suffers from tachycardia (an abnormally rapid heart rate). According to French website France-Antilles, the condition forced him to withdraw during a match at the Guadalupe Challenger earlier this year. Despite the worries, Auger-Aliassime has dismissed the severity of the issue.
“I’m not worried about this,” he recently said in Paris about the health concern.
“I’m fit. I’m healthy. These things happen. They will be solved during the summer. Nothing serious.”
Wimbledon next
At a career high of 606th in the world, Felix-Aliassime is the highest ranked player under the age of 16 on the ATP Tour. He has played in five pro tournaments this year (five futures and one Challenger), recording a win-loss of 10-6. There is certainly a bright future ahead for the teenager, but he admits that there is still a long way to go.
“It is important to keep feet on the ground and say that there is still a long way to make to the next level,” the 15-year-old told RDS.ca.
Felix-Aliassime will play in next month’s Wimbledon championships, participating in the boys’ draw. A week before the start of SW19, he will also play in the prestigious Nike Junior International in Roehampton.