ATP CUP

January 8, 2022

Felix Auger-Aliassime

Denis Shapovalov

Team Canada

Press Conference

AUGERALIASSIME-SHAPOVALOV/Medvedev-Safiullin

4-6, 7-5, 10-7

Team Canada - 2

Team Russian Tennis Federation - 1

THE MODERATOR: Team Canada, Denis and Felix. Congratulations on making the ATP Cup final. Denis, talk us through the excitement of that deciding doubles match.

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, it was great. Definitely had a tough start, I think on my part especially I was struggling a little bit with returns, and they were playing really well.

But we did a good job to hang in there in the first set and just buy ourselves time to kind of figure it out. I think we played big in the second. We had a couple of opportunities, obviously converted on the last one, which was amazing. Then just carried that momentum in the tiebreak and we played really, really well, both of us, I think we really made them play everything. Felix came up with some really big returns, some great volleys, serving really good.

Yeah, it was just awesome.

Q. Felix, is it amazing to think that the team started the tournament with four losses and here you are in the final?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, it was already the case starting the day today. We were already, I mean, really happy to be in the semifinals because of the way we started. We all know how close we were from being eliminated, you know. Yeah, thank you to Team Great Britain, for sure. They made us stay alive and we played a good one against Germany.

Then you get to the semifinals, you've got to win two matches, doesn't matter which one. Today was we started off with Denis who made an unbelievable effort to hang in there and to win that tough match against a player who was going to be really good. Then, you know, I had a tough one against Daniil, who is one of the best right now.

I think, you know, we really brought the best energy we could in the doubles, especially in the super-tiebreak we lifted ourselves. I'm really happy we're through, for sure.

Q. Denis, to be doing this all with your good buddy must make it extra special.

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, for sure. Like we said on the court, we grew up together, so we have gone from playing, I mean, I don't know, some regroupings to playing smaller tournaments to all the way up to a finals like this. So it's definitely awesome being side by side with Felix. I think the chemistry on the whole team is just unbelievable.

I think, you know, all of us, we really get along I think probably better than most teams, you know, I'd like to say. I think it's just great for us, and, yeah, I think it's a big reason why we're able to kind of hang in there in the big moments.

I think Felix and me, we do a really good job of lifting each other up. Like Felix played really well against Norrie, against Great Britain, and I didn't have a great singles. He lifted me up in the doubles there. Today kind of not that I lifted him up, but --

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: For sure, yeah.

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: -- to bounce back after was really good. I think it's awesome to kind of have that chemistry with Felix. I think it's definitely taken us a long way.

Q. Your thoughts on playing Pablo tomorrow? You have a win on clay, but he's actually won the four contests on hard court. What is it that troubles you about him?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, he's a great player. I think, I mean, he's super solid. Obviously likes the hard courts, likes to, you know, to dictate, serves really well. So he's a tricky, tricky guy to go up against.

But definitely feeling confident. I mean, I believe in myself, I believe in Felix. Everyone on the team, we're going to give it our all. Hopefully, you know, it will be good enough.

Q. Felix, playing Roberto, you have won the past two against him. Your thoughts on that match?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, he's always a tough opponent. You know, he's been so consistent throughout his career. His level rarely drops, so I'm going to have to be ready to give my best, to give my best effort, for sure. It's going to be tough physically, mentally, but, yeah, I need to reset and then really prepare myself for a battle tomorrow.

At least that's what I'd like to expect and then we'll see how it goes. Of course, it's always better to have won against a player before, so I come with that little extra belief and confidence that I beat him twice the last two times, so I can surely win again.

Q. Felix, this is a pretty impressive debut for you as captain and player. How much have you enjoyed that sort of a role?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, there wasn't much. I mean, the calls were pretty easy to make. You know, everybody was on the same page on the calls, and, you know, the communication is great in the team. I'm not the one -- I'm not doing anything really special. I mean, I'm happy, I'm proud of our team, we made, everybody, a great effort.

But I think all egos are aside and there is just one common objective, which is to win. So, you know, we make the calls and we support each other all the time, and that's really I think what's, yeah, makes us strong. Like Denis said, everyone understands their role to play.

Q. To Denis, granted, this is only the first week of the year, but to reach a final in a team event, what do you think this could do as you...(frozen audio).

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Oh, boy, it was just getting good. I didn't hear the end of your question, sorry.

Q. I was saying, as you look ahead to 2022, how important is it to get a start like this?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, I think it's great. I also think it doesn't mean anything, but it's definitely always great to start the year good. Yeah, and I think it's just awesome to get matches. I mean, particularly for myself, I didn't know if I'd be even able to play this event because I was stuck in quarantine and I didn't know how the body would be and everything.

So I'm really happy with where we are in the moment. Like I said, everyone, like Felix said, everyone on the team has made such a great effort to come this far, and I just hope tomorrow we can, you know, we can go one more step further.

But, I mean, it's impossible to say, you know, like for the future. Of course it's great to start with a finals. I'd much rather that than losing early on, but at the end of the day it doesn't really mean too much.