ROLAND GARROS

May 29, 2023

Felix Auger-Aliassime

Press Conference

F. FOGNINI/F. Auger-Aliassime

6-4, 6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Tough one today. Could you let us know what's going on with you physically, the shoulder and everything?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah. I mean, the shoulder is not great, but that wasn't the issue today. I got a bit sick last night, didn't really sleep. Yeah, sick all night. That's just a reality.

I mean, I woke up this morning trying -- I mean, it's like I've been struggling with a few things, and it's like, can you believe it, I get sick the day before my match?

I tried to warm up. I tried to see the doctor, see what I could take, but after one set, you know, just cramping and just can't move anymore. So, yeah, I don't know.

I wasn't sure whether I should keep going or give myself a shot or if I should stop. It was a difficult time, but it's okay. I just need to get healthy again.

Q. But the shoulder is okay?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: It's not great. It's very average as well. I've been playing with painkillers and trying to manage, but it needs to get better for sure.

Q. Just on the shoulder, do you think it's affected by the heavy balls here at all, or because it's an existing issue for you, not so much?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: I don't know. It was the same last year, and it was great for me. I actually like these balls, and I had been practicing with them the week -- I mean, after Rome.

Then, went to Lyon. In Lyon I started having problems. But, yeah, I thought to myself, is it the balls, but I don't think it is. Last year was the same, like I said. It's something else, yeah.

Q. Now that, unfortunately, you have some time off, is this going to change anything with your recovery on your shoulder? Are you going to do something about it or just rest?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: For sure. Right now it's tough to say, but what I know for sure is I need to not just -- not just the shoulder. I need to understand why I got sick like I did, and also a week ago it happened in Lyon. I got sick the same way.

Yeah, I have just two or three things that I need to figure out, run tests, batteries of tests. I mean, I've been just unhealthy lately and just been fighting a lot with my body, trying to practice, trying to play. Definitely I need to come back to myself as a player and enjoy playing because, yeah, it's been tough.

So I don't know. We'll see how the next days go. I'm going to run some tests, and hopefully I can be back soon. That I would hope, but I need to be back healthy. That's for sure.

Q. When you asked for the medic today, was it for a physical pain or because you were sick?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: No, it was because I had a cramp. I saw the doctor before the match, and I thought maybe there was something I could take, electrolytes, to help me with my cramps, but I wasn't really in good shape.

Maybe it helped me a little bit. I may have had a little less cramps than I would have had, but I was far from being able to win.

Q. Are you thinking of taking a break to be able to get back into shape?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yes, obviously. I hope that will help and I can play on grass in two or three weeks, but it's difficult to say.

I think I must go home, take some tests because I didn't have time to do the specific tests. I have to do a battery of tests to see why I was sick here, why I was sick a week ago and, see what's happening.

I tried everything. I tried to hang on, but next time I'm on the court I want to be in good shape.

Q. In terms of frustration, where do you stand because you're a great pro, you have an attention to detail to controlling things. It must be difficult for you because things are escaping you.

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: I try to do my best for the things I can control. Also with my team, we try to be as professional as possible. We have, it's true, an attention to detail, but we may have some lessons to draw.

But at some points there are things I don't control, but I have to accept it and to be proactive, but I can't change things. I can't expect things to get back to normal without doing something differently or without changing something. So it's going to push me and my team to see what we have to adjust so I can get back into good shape.

Then there's a bit of bad luck because of the past few days I was feeling better and then last night I felt sick.

Q. Mentally is it very heavy because you wanted to shine here in Paris in a tournament you like? Has that weighed on you mentally?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Well, obviously it weighs heavier when you are losing and you are not playing well and also when you are not feeling well with your body, but I try not to worry too much, not to panic.

There are still quite a lot of tournaments coming up this year, and I trust that if things get better, I will be able to play well and have good moments on the court this year.

I shouldn't panic. It's a difficult time. I have to do my best, taking into account the situation.

Q. I was going to ask you whether unconsciously there could be a factor of some nerves that may happen because things are happening again and again?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: No, I don't think so. You can come to any hypothesis, but I don't think I'm being nervous. It's not my first Paris Grand Slam. It's not my first Grand Slam. It's just that I'm not feeling well.

I was not feeling very nervous these days. I just got up and wasn't feeling well. That's all.