AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 20, 2023

Felix Auger-Aliassime

Press Conference

F. AUGER-ALIASSIME/F. Cerundolo

6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Well done, Felix. Do you feel your level is getting better with each round?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yes, I do feel like it's getting better. Today was a good start, so I'm happy with the way I stepped out on the court. I was playing my best tennis.

After, of course, there's going to be a reaction from the opponent, which is normal. I'm happy that overall I found a good level today.

It's positive for what's to come.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You finished really strong last year, had that great experience at the Davis Cup. Have you been able to carry that through? Does that last?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Well, it's funny. I was actually speaking with my coach today, like, thinking that in tennis, compared to other sports, it's really not like seasons. We don't really have, let's say, a season finale, the championships at the end of the year. You have important tournaments throughout the year.

Of course, last year I wanted to finish in Turin, and I did. That was kind of the goal and the big push I gave till the end. Then there was the Davis Cup, which was an important win. Then you have here, even though it's the start of the year, it's an important tournament that you try to get ready for.

I don't see it like season by season. I don't, like, in my mind two separate things and feel like, Okay, it's a whole new year.

Did it carry through? I mean, I don't know. I just feel like, yes, I've been playing good tennis lately. I try to get better as the time goes by. But I don't see it like it's a new chapter, a new year, anything like that.

Q. When you come into a major, are you thinking about it as just it's one of the Grand Slam tournaments or are you thinking about it relative to how you did last year at the Australian Open specifically?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: No, because the Australian Open last year is kind of too far in the memory. Like, you come in and there's, like, too many things that have happened in the meantime. Like, you don't have a clear memory of how you felt, how I felt last year, or how were the conditions, what was working for me. You kind of go more with your recent memories, how I've been playing lately coming into the tournament.

But, of course, it's tough to not think about the fact it is a Grand Slam. It is more important. You try to win those tournaments. At the end of the day as a player, that's what you want to win and where you want to perform.

Even though I like to approach every match that I play on the tour as they come, I don't try to put more pressure, expectations, when it's a Grand Slam. I like to prepare myself like it's a final every day of any tournament.

Yeah, my approach doesn't differ. But it is an important tournament, so...

Q. A bit of a silly topic, but I did want to ask how much talk or joking around has there been in your team or with other players around the locker room about this supposed Netflix curse that you've managed to avoid so far?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: My girlfriend showed me today. I wasn't aware. I was aware that players were losing, I'd see players were losing, but it didn't cross my mind until, yeah, she showed me the thing this morning. I thought it was funny.

I don't know. I don't think it's connected. I don't know. Maybe the players that lost, maybe they do feel like it's connected somehow. I don't think they do. I don't think it's connected anyhow.

But, yeah, so funny how things work out sometimes.

Q. What was that like for you and Denis to win the Davis Cup? What did it do to your relationship given your history together? I know you said things don't carry over from season to season, but the Americans, they have this sort of thing going on with the United Cup.

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: I saw that.

Q. Do you and Denis have anything similar?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: No, no, not as much. I have to say, yeah, starting the year like the United States did, we had the same experience last year, and it's a great start. You're in a team event, you win together, you share great emotions all together, you play some good tennis against a good opponent. I think for all of them it was a really positive way to start the year. I can talk from experience.

In regards to the Davis Cup, it's just one of those memories that will stay in my mind for a long time, for me personally. What I shared with the teammates there, with the boys, it was really special.

Tough to describe, I mean, the emotions. It's things that you, I don't know, dream of, an emotion that you dream of. To accomplish this with the team that we had, it was a beautiful moment.

Of course, it brings us closer together, Denis, Vasek, the other guys that were in quallies here that were on our team. I'm looking forward to going again in Davis Cup this year.

Q. Are you going to watch Denis' match tonight?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, I'm going to have dinner here and probably watch him.