For the first time in his career, Félix Auger-Aliassime offered himself a victory against none other than Novak Djokovic, Sunday at the Laver Cup, disputed in London. A performance that the Quebecer described as “his best to date”.
On several occasions in recent months, the young athlete had delivered fierce opposition to the big players on the circuit.
He got match point against then world number 2 Daniil Medvedev in Australia. He had played two tight sets against Djokovic in Rome.
At Roland-Garros, he became the third player in history to force Rafael Nadal to play a fifth set in “his sandbox”.
Encouraging results, but defeats all the same. And Félix confirmed it on Sunday: he showed up on the field with the objective that this time be the right one.
“I felt super positive [dimanche], he said at a press conference. I thought about this setback against Djokovic, as well as the one against Medvedev. I didn’t want the scenario to repeat itself. »
His perseverance paid off. Even after being shattered early in the match, even after seeing the former best player in the world come from behind in the second set, Félix scored a convincing 6-3, 7-6 win ( 3), under the admiring gaze of its captain, the illustrious John McEnroe.
“I missed a few forehands in the second set, I got broken too. But I continued to force him to release his best shots, he analyzed. At the tiebreaker, I hung on and gave him nothing. »
Trust and understanding
Helped by his most beautiful weapon, his serve, the 13th player in the world thus offered himself a second important victory in as many weeks, after that against the new master of the circuit, the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, a few years ago. days at the Davis Cup.
“It gives me confidence for the future. And that allows me to understand how we get these victories, explained the pride of L’Ancienne-Lorette. Because it is not because we manage to beat them once that it will be repeated each time, by magic. »
“It makes me discover what my strengths are, to try to repeat these performances,” continued Félix.
First for the world
This victory against Djokovic, seventh in the ATP rankings, was all the more important as it provided precious points for the World team, in this competition disputed as a team.
The American Frances Tiafoe would then defeat the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas and allow the World to win its first Laver Cup, after four unsuccessful attempts where Europe had often downgraded them.
Auger-Aliassime also seems to enjoy these team competitions. At the start of the season, he had largely contributed to Canada’s triumph at the ATP Cup.
Last week, his performances, including his victory over Alcaraz, helped the Canadians reach the final rounds of the Davis Cup.
“When I play these events, I feel like it brings out the best in me, because I’m not just playing for myself, but for my whole team. It keeps me positive, ”pointed the young player.
McEnroe’s bet
The presence of Felix against Djokovic was a bold bet on the part of McEnroe.
A few minutes before this crucial match, the Quebecer, who was the highest ranked player on his team, played a double alongside Jack Sock, against Andy Murray and Matteo Berrettini.
A meeting won by the World, which at the same time gave it a good advantage in the competition, won by the first team to reach 13 points.
This victory seemed to galvanize Félix, who said he felt good on the pitch despite the energy he had just displayed.
“We thought he was our best chance in doubles,” said co-captain Patrick McEnroe. And Félix is a strong young man, so we had no worries about playing him two games in a row. »
“In the end, we looked like geniuses because he won both games. But the credit goes to him, because he was the one who did the work on the ground, ”he analyzed.
THE WORLD TEAM TRIUMPH 13 TO 8
Jour 1
(Each win is worth 1 point)
- Alex de Minaur (Monde) fact Andy Murray (Europe)
- Casper Ruud (Europe) fact Jack Sock (Monde)
- Stefanos Tsitsipas (Europe) fact Diego Schwartzman (Monde)
- Jack Sock / Frances Tiafoe (Monde) undo Roger Federer / Rafael Nadal (Europe)
Jour 2
(Each victory is worth 2 points)
- Novak Djokovic (Europe) fact Frances Tiafoe (Monde)
- Matteo Berrettini (Europe) fact Félix Auger-Aliassime (Monde)
- Taylor Fritz (Monde) fact Cameron Norrie (Europe)
- Matteo Berrettini / Andy Murray (Europe) undo Jack Sock / Alex de Minaur (Monde)
Jour 3
(Each victory is worth 3 points)
- Félix Auger-Aliassime (Monde) fact Novak Djokovic (Europe)
- Frances Tiafoe (Monde) fact Stefanos Tsitsipas (Europe)
- Félix A.-Also / Jack Sock (Monde) undo Matteo Berrettini / Andy Murray (Europe)
The rise of young people
Photo AFP
Félix Auger-Aliassime ready to return Novak Djokovic’s ball during the duel won by the Quebecer in London.
Félix Auger-Aliassime who pays for Novak Djokovic, Frances Tiafoe who beats Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer alongside Jack Sock.
The triumph of the World team at the Laver Cup, 13 to 8 against the European team, on Sunday, highlighted even more the phenomenon observed in men’s tennis in recent months: the rise of the new generation.
“The young players on the team, including me, are knocking on the door,” acknowledged Quebecer Félix Auger-Aliassime at a press conference. We win big matches, important tournaments. It’s a normal changing of the guard process. »
But Auger-Aliassime does not believe that young people have completely ousted themselves from the hold Djokovic and Nadal have had on men’s tennis for 20 years.
“You have to analyze it game by game,” he said. Novak and Rafa have played great tennis again this year. Federer hadn’t played for a year, so it was definitely tough conditions for him and he still got match point. »
No motivation needed
Félix’s performance in singles and doubles on Sunday, combined with Tiafoe’s performance on Stefanos Tsitsipas, allowed the World team to overcome an 8-4 deficit to take the title.
Sunday’s matchday matches are crucial to the Laver Cup. Each victory is worth three points, against two for those obtained on Saturday and one for those on Friday.
“I didn’t have to motivate them […] We had to win three of the last four games, we knew we could do it, we had a lot of confidence,” explained team captain John McEnroe after the game.
– With AFP