Felix Auger Aliassime aims to qualify for the 2021 Finals in Turin - UBITENNIS

Felix Auger Aliassime aims to qualify for the 2021 Finals in Turin

By sampaolo
6 Min Read

Felix Auger Aliassime recently trained at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca this month with the goal to reach the top 10 in the ATP Ranking and qualify for the ATP Finals in Turin in November 2021. 

Despite the global pandemic Auger Aliassime played in 17 tournaments and held a record of 23 wins and 19 defeats in singles matches. The 20-year-old Canadian player ended the 2020 season at world number 21 in the ATP Ranking. This year he reached three finals in Rotterdam, Marseille and Cologne 1. 

At the age of 19 he became the youngest player to reach finals in consecutive weeks since Novak Djokovic. 

Last February Auger Aliassime reached his second ATP 500 final in Rotterdam finishing runner-up to Gael Monfils. One week later he saved two match points against Stefano Travaglia and three match points against Pierre Hugues Herbert en route to reaching the final at the Open 13 in Marseille. 

At Grand Slam level Auger Aliassime beat 2012 US Open champion Andy Murray en route to reaching his first Grand Slam fourth round in New York. 

Last autumn Auger Aliassime beat Roberto Bautista Agut in the semifinal in Cologne 1 before finishing runner-up to Alexander Zverev in the final. He ended the year with a doubles title in the Paris Bercy Masters 1000 tournament. 

During the off-season Auger Aliassime spent more than one week training at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca. 

“I want to obviously keep on improving. I came to Mallorca to train hard and reach another level. I would love to reach the top 10 and be part of the ATP Finals next year. I think I have what it takes in me and now I need to do well, do work and play good matches. I have to improve my consistency and and play good tennis week after week with good engagement and good intensity every week. If I can do that, I will give myself chances to attain my objective”, said Auger Aliassime. 

During his stay in Mallorca Auger Aliassime had the chance to learn from Rafael Nadal’s uncle Toni, who provided him some useful tips. 

“It was great. I did not have the chance to talk to Toni as much as Rafa at the tournaments. To have Toni on the court, to share tennis with him and have him give his feedback on court has been great. That is one of the biggest reasons I came here, to share some experience and to have some knowledge from Toni and it has been amazing. He has helped me a lot so far and he gives me great tips. I like his ethic and mentality”, said Auger Aliassime. 

The young Canadian player was impressed by the Manacor-based Nadal Academy tennis centre, which is currently expanding its facilities with three indoor hard courts and seven covered clay courts. 

“It was my first time, but I have been happily surprised by everything. It is as good as I imagined, even better. I feel like everybody has a very good energy here, a lot of respect, a lot of engagement and passion for the game. For me, as a professional tennis player, there is everything I need to train, recover and have a good time”. 

Auger Aliassime faced many challenges in this difficult year, but this experience made him a more matured player. 

“This year has taught me that there are things that are beyond my control and I have to embrace the challenges. Because of this, I feel like I have matured as a person and I am able to look at the bigger picture. I always want to win and do everything right, but when I think about the bigger picture, I can focus on being the best player and where I want to go in the long term”. 

Auger Aliassime looks forward to the 2021 season, but he admitted that there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the calendar of tournaments. 

“My objectives for next year include preparing myself for each tournament and trying go as far as possible. I am at a stage in my career where I play every tournament to win”. During this year Auger Aliassime has continued contributing to his charitable work with “FAA Points for Change”. For each point he won, he donated money for the education of children in Togo (the country of origin of his father) and the protection of their rights. 

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