Felix Auger-Aliassime, a 22-year-old Canadian who is No. 9 in the world, has four titles and already knows what it's like to beat Alcaraz, Nadal, Federer and Djokovic. He has Toni Nadal on his bench. He is one of the stars of the Mutua Madrid Open.
How is his knee, which prevented him from playing in Monte Carlo, evolving? She is doing much better, although she is not perfect every day because it is an injury that sometimes hurts me and sometimes not. I needed to see the doctor and take a break and now I have to train the specific muscles properly, but I have been training well for the last few days. I think I'll be in good shape for the tournament. Alcaraz, Sinner, Rune... Do you feel part of this new generation called to dominate tennis? Of course. My results show that I can compete with anyone. At the end of last season I had good results, winning many games. If I look at it in perspective, I'm fine, I'm happy with the way I'm competing. I hope to win a few more matches to be in a good position in the rankings and compete with this great group of players. He played an excellent match and led Nadal to all five sets in the second round of the last Roland Garros. What do you need to play well regularly on clay? It's not that different from how I play on other surfaces. My service is still important on clay. I have to move well and try to play with my forehand. When I faced Rafa I entered the court well, finishing in the net when I needed it and at the same time with the physical quality of defending when it was necessary and moving well around the court. I try to do that on all surfaces. The main difference on land is that I play with a little more height, with lifted blows and with more patience in some points. Here, in Madrid, everything is faster, but in general on land you need patience. I try not to modify too much what I do. You seem to be a very calm and mature player for your age. I am the way I am. Yes, I try to keep my composure and be calm because I know it helps me stay focused in matches and be competitive. At the end of the day, what I want is to win and it's good to be calm when there's a lot of tension and emotions can come into play. I've been able to do this well, not perfect, but getting better and better.Is it something natural or does it work especially on it? Well, I'm also an emotional person, I'm human. Sometimes I feel frustrated. In others happy and overly excited, when things are going well. I try to calm down because I know that nothing is guaranteed and you always have to work. Tell me about #FAAPointsForChange, the project in which you collaborate with BNP Paribas and the NGO CARE to promote the education of children in Togo. Donate five dollars for every point you earn. It's very important for me to share what I have. I am fortunate to enjoy a great career that gives me the possibility to help others. It is good to collaborate with CARE, which helps children in Togo, my father's country. It helps children in school, orphans and parents in difficulty. Also to young people who try to make their way in different jobs, give them everything they need to start. I'm proud of the work they're doing and we'll see how we can move forward in the future. It's an important part of my life.Do you still play the piano? I learned to read music and play a little, but I lost fingering a few years ago because I stopped playing. It is a beautiful art to know how to play an instrument. It amuses me a lot. Now, actually, I have to settle for having fun singing. Not just classic. There are contemporary musicians that I like very much. We have a woman in Montreal named Alexandra Stravinsky whoCaba to release a new album. It's magnificent. I also like Ludovico Einaudi, whose work appears in famous films. Whenever I hear something good, it catches my eye, but I don't remember all the names. As a child I dreamed of being an artist... When you're young you do different things, but tennis has always been my passion. Who knows, in another life. I really like sport in general, the intensity of the competition. I will always want to be around this world. Back to sports. What has the work with Toni Nadal added to your tennis? We talked a lot about things I can improve since we started working together. My movements, being able to place my body in a better position on the court, playing with power and precision. And of course, improving my backhand, something I work on all the time. He is a great motivator, with an efficient speech with simple words. I try to follow his advice and when I play with the right head and with the right intensity I am a good player. It has helped me develop a great self-confidence, which can allow me to achieve great things in tennis. You have been able to beat Alcaraz in three of your four duels... Well, he beat me recently. We know each other well. He is the player to beat right now, he has everything in his game to be dangerous. I beat him in the past, serving very well and being able to dictate the conditions of the game. You don't have time. When we played in Indian Wells he was always very aggressive, also with the rest, moving fast, hitting very hard. He has also beaten Nadal, Federer and Djokovic. Who was harder to beat in the Big Three? I played with Roger when I was older and almost retired. It's hard to say. There was a time in his career when he was impossible to beat. Just like Rafa or Djokovic. It's hard to say. There are periods and changes. You can't be the best for ten years or more. Djokovic has spent the most No. 1 weeks, he has been the most consistent of the three. You have to recognize that, but it is difficult to distinguish between the three. Yes, I think he will play. He is resting, but he will come. Yes, I think he will play. He is resting, but he will come. Same as always. It will be dangerous. Young players are increasingly convinced that they can do damage, but when you're on the court in front of him it's a big challenge. It will be difficult to beat, regardless of the preparation with which it arrives.
- tennis
- Rafa Nadal
- Carlos Alcaraz
- Novak Djokovic
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