THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 7, 2021

Felix Auger-Aliassime

Press Conference

M. BERRETTINI/F. Auger-Aliassime

6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Tell us a bit about that match. More importantly, give us a sense of how you feel about the whole tournament, the progress you've made in the past couple weeks.

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, I mean, no, no, it's been a good couple of weeks on grass definitely. There's some good to take from my tournament here, a lot of positives.

But today just felt like I had a rough start again, like other matches. It was just tough. I think afterwards, even though I played well, I had a rough start, couldn't really have a chance in the first, and I think once it was one set all, it was really even. I really felt like there was a match, there was a battle.

It's really unfortunate that I had small opportunities in rallies in the end of the third set, then just double-faulted at 15-All. Then he played a good point. He did good.

Credit's to him because I think he really deserves it. He's shown how consistent he is over the last few weeks. He just won in Queen's. He deserves to be in the semifinals right now.

Q. I know you know Matteo pretty well on and off court. Talk about what makes him special as a player and just a friend of yours, as a person.

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, well, he served amazing, like he always does. Outside of that, there were times in the second and third where I felt like I could put my racquet on most returns and I was making him play. I felt like the pressure was on him. I was winning my service games easier. I had more chances on his.

Overall when you look at the match, you look at the fourth set, he served amazing. That's what he does really well. Great forehand. The slice on grass was tough to deal with. With the wind today that was changing all the time, with the ball staying really low, yeah, I had some difficulty dealing with it. He did that really well. He's just, yeah, consistent.

As a person, he's good. Great sportsmanship. A great guy on and off the court. I'm sure we'll have - hopefully - many more good matches in the future and more good moments.

Q. He was the one player you spent with in Melbourne during the lockdown. What did you get to know about him during that time?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: No, yeah, we spent time there when COVID started. Many other times. I mean, nothing specific. When you just talk with somebody, it's just casual conversations.

But, yeah, just a lot of fun. We some good laughs and also some good training in Australia to start the year. Unfortunately he got injured in Australia, but I felt like we both started the year well. I guess we did a good two weeks of training together.

Q. What was it like to watch the football game last night with Matteo? What were your thoughts about the game itself?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: The game yesterday? It was tight. I thought Spain was dominating in the first half, and then Italy came back well, scored a good goal. Penalties, it was a good comeback from Italy. Good game.

Q. Were you with Matteo? How many people were you with? What was the atmosphere like?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, we were watching together. Him, my girlfriend and his. Just in the players dining area.

Q. You played well, but just those three games in the third set. When you were 5-All, I think there is where you miss your chances. Do you agree with that? You made quite a few mistakes. Then Matteo was playing much better in the fourth set, more relaxed.

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: No, I think it was played there. I had a really bad start on my serve. The first set I felt like both of us were not playing really well. Then when things were even at one set all, like you said, I think in the third set at 5-All, it was deuce and I missed this backhand in the net. I just felt like I had a little bit of the rhythm, a little bit of the edge.

From there he won five games in a row. So I think the end of the third and the beginning of the fourth is where I lost the match for me. I played a poor game on my serve. He did some good shots.

Like you said, after the fourth when I started like this, he served better and better. He was more relaxed. I was trying to stay, to fight, to find a way, but it was a bit too late.

Q. At some point you must have realized that Federer had lost. Did it change in any way the mindset or perception of what the match actually was going to mean for both of you?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, no, I saw. I was just a little bit surprised just by the score of it. I mean, I believe that Hubert can win. He plays amazing. But just the score was a bit surprising.

But it didn't change anything from my part. I was in the middle of a battle, a match. I was just trying to find a way to get through this one.

Yeah, now seeing the semifinals set up, I mean, of course we know who the favorite is on paper now in the last four. But I feel like Matteo, he's playing better and better. He would deserve to go even further. Hubert, a good friend of mine. I hope they play a good match and may the best man win.