THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 28, 2022

Felix Auger-Aliassime

Press Conference

M. CRESSY/F. Auger-Aliassime

6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. How crushed are you by that result?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, it's very disappointing, that's for sure. But, you know, I just need to face the reality. The reality is I lost today, and there is nothing I can do anymore, even though of course I had higher ambitions for this tournament.

But in order to one day win, you know, a tournament like this, I need to be able to beat players like today and many different players along the way.

Yeah, just need to see what, yeah, what I can still improve to become better.

Q. Was it his serve and volley that just unbalanced you?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: I knew it was coming, but the quality of the serve was impressive, I have to say. I mean, I have played the likes of, you know, John Isner, Milos, Opelka, but he's with these guys. You know, he's definitely with these guys.

So if he keeps that going, I mean, I see this guy being, even on hard courts, he's going to be tough to play. Clay could be different, but, you know, but I see him, yeah, being like those guys, being able to be in the top 20 and more. We'll see. He has really high qualities, better than his ranking today. Yeah, we will see how it goes for him.

Today, you know, was not just a serve and volley. His serve was amazing. He took his chances when he needed to in important points.

He was courageous, more than me, so he's deserving.

Q. What's it like to play someone who plays in a way so few other players play?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Well, there's not a lot of rallies, not a lot of rhythm. When a rally comes, in the second set I got a bit tight on my serve, serving, of course double-faulted, deuce.

Wasn't quite serving well in the first two sets, but then since he just had no rhythm the whole match, whenever a rally comes, it's just tough. You're not quite sure what to do. Anyway, yeah, overall it's never easy to play a guy that served that well like him, especially on grass.

Q. Why did you just say he was more courageous than you? What did you mean by that?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: I mean in the important moments, in the tiebreaks and everything, he played well when he needed to, like he served well, hit great volleys.

Also, on the return, even though I believe I'm a better player from the baseline, he returned -- like that 3-All point in the fourth set, like he took his chance and just went for it. That's what I mean by "courageous." It's not easy to go for that, but he went for it. Smile at him like it worked for him, and that's what I mean by that, yeah.

Q. Is there a point in the match that stands out where it turned for you? I know the tiebreaks decided it, but...

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: I don't remember everything, but I don't remember having, like, big chances on the return, like, to break him. I had one in the first set, but after that -- I forgot, but then it was like in the tiebreaks, and I was lucky, because I started bad the third-set tiebreak and I recovered well.

Yeah, it's just unfortunate. That was a big turning point, that third set when it's 1-All can make a big difference.

But, I mean, I can just be mad at myself, like double faulted on set point, didn't serve well. That's it.