OMNIUM BANQUE NATIONALE

August 12, 2022

Felix Auger-Aliassime

Press Conference

C. RUUD/F. Auger-Aliassime

6-1, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Felix, not the result you were looking for today, but just talk about overall the week, reaching your first quarterfinal here in Montreal.

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, the two first matches were good, some positive things. Then, yeah, I never thought it would be ending like this today.

Yeah, credits to Casper for playing well. I think you always have to give credit when it's due.

But on my side, yeah, it's super disappointing to lose any tournament like this, and especially here.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Yesterday you said that yesterday's match was probably one of the best you played. Today it was definitely not one of the best you've played. Do you look for, I don't know to use the word 'signs' during the preparation of the match to basically try to make sure when you prepare a match, you do the things that make you play well, not do the things that probably don't lead to a positive outcome?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, I've been thinking since the match ended what happened. I think I have to see. Maybe my expectations were a bit too high from yesterday and I was trying to repeat that instead of just living with what I had, just fighting with all the tools that I had today, fighting with my opponent today.

But again, I had a great preparation. I started off the match as well as I could. Won the first four points on the return, which is rare for me. Then I don't know, yeah, things changed rapidly.

It was a few points close. Actually I gained points to win two service games that I lost in that first set. That's unfortunate. A few points here and there in that first set... Then instead of going down two breaks, maybe I'm staying on serve. Of course, that plays in.

He played well, yes. But I can't really say that there was a drastic thing in my preparation, there's a specific reason why my level at least was so different from yesterday than today.

Q. Against a player like Casper, do you have to serve well?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: I try to serve my best every match. Yes, he's in a different position than also other players. That's not new. These days in tennis, a lot of players return from far, especially on second serves. I don't feel like that was something that should throw me off.

But, yeah, have to see why and how I can be more consistent, think about the right things, adjust quickly so that it doesn't take me, like it took me, I don't know, four or five service games before winning my first one late in the second set.

That's not good enough. Have to see why this happens.

Q. I'm thinking when he gets into a rally, he's a clay court player, do you have to try to influence more quickly?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, of course. If I would have served like yesterday, if I would have served how good I can serve, things would have been easier.

I mean, I know him well. We've been playing for years. We've played a lot in practice. Even though our last match was last year on clay, the outcome is never like this. So we know each other's games.

Even though we get into a rally, I felt like today I had a poor level, of course, in the rallies, really not hitting my targets well again for some reason.

Yeah, so many aspects were not working well today for sure.

Q. No matter how hard you tried, is this one of those matches where it felt like it just wasn't meant to be?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Well, at some point, yeah. It's tough. I mean, I don't get discouraged. But after the first set, it's fine. Anybody can lose a first set. Actually in tennis, of course you're going to feel different if you lose 7-6 or 6-1, but at the end of the day you lost one set. I've lost first sets or two sets in a row in Grand Slams badly, then won again.

I was still fine at that point. But then to right away lose my service game, then another one... Yeah, from 3-Love it really felt like the worst outcome, the worst possible outcome today.

Yeah, at that point it gets really tough. I try my best, but he was also getting more and more comfortable and confident, so then things get much more difficult.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. On Sunday you were talking about becoming more consistent. Today you had a difficult match. Is it part of what you have to learn still to acquire this consistency?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Every time I try to learn from every match, win or lose. I will see what I can learn from this match today. The important thing is to know how I will be able to bounce back next week. I'm still giving myself some time in the next days to unwind and start working again.

This is not usual for me, after playing two good matches, to lose the way I did today, especially at a tournament like this one.

Q. Was there something bothering you on the court? Maybe you had some injury that was giving you problems.

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: No, not much. In the beginning there was something with my racquet, but nothing special. It's not that.

I was trying to force my shots. I played a very good first game, but immediately after it became more complicated. I want to know why. I have some idea, but I had no physical problem.

In the second set, of course, I was not at the top of my form either, but nothing abnormal.

Q. When you left the court you greeted the crowd. What was in your mind at that moment? The crowd was in shock like you. What did you think in that moment?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: It's difficult at the end. It's a shame. I always want to feel that I gave myself all my chances, that I tried my best. Of course, I tried today, but the match went so fast. The win was so far away today.

I wanted to thank the crowd for being here. This is a tournament we don't play every year, so it's always special for me to play here. There was also some disappointment leaving the court after a match like that.

But this is reality and I have to live with it.

Q. Was there an additional pressure because the draw was very open? Was it in your mind?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: More or less. I believe my draw until now was a difficult one. I played the best-seeded players on my side of the draw. I knew Casper was the best-ranked player left. I was not even thinking ahead. I knew the match was going to be difficult, and it was difficult. I was really focused on this match.

I don't believe the fact that the other side of the draw was more open had any influence on the result today.

Q. Of course, it's your fate to have to deal with whatever happens and move on. Is it particularly difficult today to think about something else because it's here?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Well, the important thing for me is to understand what happened and try to act on it after I try to move on. I'm not someone who falls into emotions or doubts or wonders.

Tennis is a sport, many things happen: sometimes good things, sometimes not as good. The important thing is to keep going. Even when you win it's important to see what you can improve. I've been doing that for my whole career, so this is not new.

In a few hours from now, once I will have digested this loss, I will try to look at the future.

Q. What is your schedule now?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Cincinnati.