Felix Auger-Aliassime’s poor 2023 season has continued at Roland Garros after a straight sets defeat against Fabio Fognini.
The Canadian lost convincingly to charismatic Italian Fabio Fognini 6-4 6-4 6-3 as he exited Roland Garros in the opening round.
The result means Auger-Aliassime has failed to win back-to-back matches since Indian Wells as he now turns to the grass court season.
However it would appear that there is reason behind Auger-Aliassime’s poor form and opening round exit in Paris.
That’s because the Canadian has revealed that a shoulder injury and sickness have had an effect on him and cited those reasons for defeat, “I mean, the shoulder is not great, but that wasn’t the issue today. I got a bit sick last night, didn’t really sleep. Yeah, sick all night. That’s just a reality,” the Canadian said in his press conference.
“I mean, I woke up this morning trying — I mean, it’s like I’ve been struggling with a few things, and it’s like, can you believe it, I get sick the day before my match? I tried to warm up. I tried to see the doctor, see what I could take, but after one set, you know, just cramping and just can’t move anymore.
“I wasn’t sure whether I should keep going or give myself a shot or if I should stop. It was a difficult time, but it’s okay. I just need to get healthy again.”
Rotten luck for Auger-Aliassime which has summed up his season so far in 2023.
Looking ahead to the future, the Canadian said that he’s going to do some tests and is hopeful to be fit for the grass court season, “Right now it’s tough to say, but what I know for sure is I need to not just — not just the shoulder. I need to understand why I got sick like I did, and also a week ago it happened in Lyon. I got sick the same way,” the Canadian explained.
“I have just two or three things that I need to figure out, run tests, batteries of tests. I mean, I’ve been just unhealthy lately and just been fighting a lot with my body, trying to practice, trying to play.
“Definitely I need to come back to myself as a player and enjoy playing because, yeah, it’s been tough. So I don’t know. We’ll see how the next days go. I’m going to run some tests, and hopefully I can be back soon. That I would hope, but I need to be back healthy. That’s for sure.
“I hope that will help and I can play on grass in two or three weeks, but it’s difficult to say. I think I must go home, take some tests because I didn’t have time to do the specific tests.
“I have to do a battery of tests to see why I was sick here, why I was sick a week ago and, see what’s happening. I tried everything. I tried to hang on, but next time I’m on the court I want to be in good shape.”
Auger-Aliassime will hope to be fit for his next tournament which is scheduled for s-Hertogenbosch which starts on the 12th of June.
