WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN

August 18, 2021

Felix Auger-Aliassime

Press Conference

F. AUGER-ALIASSIME/K. Khachanov

6-7, 6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Tight match today. How did you feel out there?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, it was a hard-fought battle, for sure. Karen is in good form, especially at the moment. I knew it was going to be a tough one.

We played one of the toughest first sets. I remember playing super long. Chances on both sides, and in the end I was one point close in the tiebreak, and so it was important for me to put that disappointment behind me and focus on what was ahead.

I was able to really fight well back in the second set after we had some crazy long games. In the end, for me to be able to break him twice in that second set and then again in the third was a really great win. I think I served really well, so overall it was a really good win.

Q. Did you have the match in Montreal in the back of your head today?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Well, no, not really today, but, I mean, maybe yesterday thinking about the matchup again. Yeah, that was the last time we played, if I remember well, so, yeah, just having a shot always at maybe, yeah, finding a way to beat an opponent that's beaten you before is always good. Today I did that well.

It was, again, a tough three-sets match. I felt like I served better than I did the last time we played around, so that was a big key today. Also, physically and mentally I was more stable, more solid. Yeah, it was a good win for me.

Q. You must be very pleased with this victory then?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, no, it's pleasing. It was a lot of effort, tough conditions with the heat, so I'm happy with the way I fought and the way I was able to find a way to win this one.