Felix Auger-Aliassime says it is a dream to play at the Olympic Games but he is not there just to make up the numbers.
The world No.15 will be making his debut at the Games in Tokyo and will be his country’s sole representative in the men’s singles tournament. Denis Shapovalov has opted not to play at the event due to ‘safety’ concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Auger-Aliassime is hoping that he will be able to continue the momentum he generated from Wimbledon where he reached the quarter-finals for the first time in his career. He was knocked out of the tournament by Matteo Berrettini who finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic. So far this season the Canadian has compiled a win-loss of 24-14 with three of those wins being over top 10 players – Alexander Zverev, Roger Federer and Diego Schwartzman.
“I am not going there to just enjoy the moment,” Auger-Aliassime told ITFWorld magazine. “It’s all about the build-up now and becoming an Olympian but once it comes closer to starting, it will become more about competing and winning.
“That’s why I am going there. I am going there to try and compete and win, not just be a kid enjoying the moment.”
Should Auger-Aliassime win a medal at the Olympics it will only be the third time in history a Canadian player has done so. The first was back in 2000 when the doubles pairing of Sébastien Lareau and Daniel Nestor won the men’s doubles title.
It was eight years after that triumph where Auger-Aliassime recalls his first memory of the Olympics. He recalls being ‘amazed’ watching sportspeople from his country marching in the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Games.
“I was amazed by them and remember dreaming of one day walking where they walk,” he said. “Just to see myself in their shoes now and think there is a kid back home who is watching and maybe thinking the same as I did is amazing.
“Honestly, I am so excited. The Olympics was always a dream of mine growing up and my first memory was seeing how big it was. It reaches way further than your own sport or yourself. I love the Olympics and it will be a dream come true.
“To be 20 years old and able to say I am going to be an Olympian, it is something very special.”
This year there will be a total of four Canadian tennis players participating in the Olympics. Besides Auger-Aliassime, Leylah Fernandez will play in the women’s singles. Meanwhile, Gabriela Dabrowski and Sharon Fichman have teamed up for the doubles.
The Olympic tennis competition will start on Saturday.
