AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 27, 2022

Felix Auger-Aliassime

Press Conference

D. MEDVEDEV/F. Auger-Aliassime

6-7, 3-6, 7-6, 7-5, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You must be incredibly proud of yourself for that amazing match. I know you must be feeling a great sense of disappointment, though. You didn't quite get across the line.

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: For sure. Yeah, I mean, no, I mean, at the end you step on the court, you want to have no regrets. I can regret that -- I can go back and think I wish I made different choices, or I wish Daniil didn't play as good in certain moments.

But, yeah, it was a good effort. At the end of the day, I can't regret the effort that I put, and the chances I gave myself. And, yeah, I like to look at it in a positive way. Of course I would have loved to win. I love to win every time. It sucks to lose in the end, but that's life. I just need to accept it, yeah.

Q. Daniil said in his interview on the court that he felt a shift in momentum when the roof closed in that tiebreak, the conditions suited him better after that. Did you feel that?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: I still had a match point, so I don't know (smiling). But, I mean, yes and no. I mean, I lost that point, I went on to tiebreak 2-1, he was serving. He served great twice. I unfortunately couldn't win my two points on my serve, and then you find yourself at 5-2 quickly. Actually, yeah, I mean, 5-2 returning.

The tiebreak, you know, was a bad start for me, but I thought he played good. It was fine. I was not too frustrated with myself. I had chances in the fourth. I had chances in the fifth.

No, I mean, I think the match was even. I think the roof didn't impact me at all.

Q. I know it's too soon maybe, but what does that do to your confidence? You obviously had not done too well against him recently when you played him. To have a match that goes like that when you have match point, push him to the limits, what does that do for your confidence overall?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: I always believed I could produce what I did tonight. I showed it, but definitely it's the difference between knowing that you have this inside of you and actually showing up and doing it and being close from winning, one point close.

But of course it's good, I mean, it's good for myself. It's a world of competition, so at the end of the day I think it's a good message that I send to my fellow players, the people I'm competing with.

I mean, I'm ready to test myself with the best, and I have proved it now time after time, so, yeah.

Q. How would you describe what makes Medvedev the player he is from your perspective?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: I mean, you know, we both didn't want to give up. I mean, it's no surprise he's where he is now. He fights, tries to find solution. He plays well when he needs to. I think that's the big difference, we saw the players playing good this week, they play well when it matters. I think he was just a little bit more clutch than me. Yeah, a little bit more solid at times.

Comes with experience, as well, I think. But, yeah, I'm looking forward to the next time I can put myself in that situation again. I believe I can, you know, I can cross the line.

Q. Obviously this is heart-wrenching for you, but what can you take away from this experience?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, I mean, again, I wish I could go back and change it, but I can't. So, you know, I have accepted it already. It is what it is. I look at it in a very positive way. So far I played two tournaments this year. I showed some good level again today.

Yeah, it's unfortunate I couldn't win, but it was a good match. I showed good things. You know, I'm going to leave Australia with my head held high, and I'm going to go into the rest of the season knowing that I can play well, I can play well against the best players in the world.