LAVER CUP

September 23, 2023

Patrick McEnroe

Felix Auger-Aliassime

Team World

Press Conference

F. AUGER-ALIASSIME/G. Monfils

6-4, 6-3

Team Europe - 0

Team World - 3

THE MODERATOR: Thanks for joining us, guys.

Felix, a big win. Your thoughts on your match.

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, happy with the win. Look, at the end of the day, the goal was to get through and get the win for, like I said, you know, in the first press conference, not just for me, but for the teammates, everybody involved, the captain, Patrick. I'm just happy that we're up in this competition.

I take all matches kind of seriously and just want to compete and win but having fun doing it. Happy that we're up and also happy that we're up in the doubles.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about what Gael talked to you about during multiple breaks there? Came over to your side, talking to you, remonstrating with you. Can you talk us through that a little bit.

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, look, it's competition. Things got a little bit, yeah, heated in the moment, a bit of tension.

I was just kind of talking to the referees, talking to him about what rules he was applying, I guess, between the rules we're used to in tournaments or different rules.

Because I came in thinking, yeah, I have played this tournament and I think everybody involved, not just myself, we all believed that Laver Cup is a tournament that I think has the potential to be taken very seriously, not just now but also in the future, so we're taking this seriously.

Yeah, I was just making sure of that. I don't know. Yeah, things got a bit heated for a couple of games, but I'm happy that we were able to finish the match. Gael is somebody I appreciate, so there is no, I think, tension outside of what just happened in the few games there.

Q. The showboating, did any of that affect you or affect the way you approached the game?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, no, it was really between me and the referee. It was just understanding what rules we're applying, because, I mean, I'm approaching this match like every other match. Of course it's not the same, how do you say, like tension or, like, I don't know, expectations in, let's say, a Grand Slam. But still, it's competitive and because we are playing in a team, we want to win for the team.

So that was it for me.

Q. Just talk a little bit about that experience of winning on the home court in front of these fans. I know you get asked about it a lot, but it's got to feel a lot different than other matches.

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, it felt nice. Last year, it was an amazing win in London, but, you know, if we can win on home soil for the first time, that would also be cool. It was our first win last year for Team World.

But to do it with the crowd, you know, with us and supporting us, and for me especially as a Canadian, it feels good. Feels good to get a first win under my belt here in the competition, and overall in my season I think it's nice to get some wins. I haven't seen those in a while (smiling).

Q. Is this the type of win that can reset your year, as you end it?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: I'm feeling good. Like more than just the win, I think it's the way. Like, I think I'm moving good and I'm feeling well on the court. Hitting the ball well.

I felt in the practice, even in the warmup today, I felt like I was hitting well. You never know. Oh, am I going to be able to showcase that on the court?

I'm happy I was able to showcase what I believe I can do and what I train to do, and in front of everybody here, on TV, it's nice to step up and play well again.

Q. I was just reading some stuff on Twitter, and some people were saying this is maybe the most agro we have ever seen during a Laver Cup match when that stuff was happening during the first set. Obviously 3-2 in the first set you were talking to the ref about, Is this an exhibition? I saw Monfils crossed over and said something to you. After that it really seemed like he wasn't as focused after that. Something, like, set off in his head. What do you think, like, happened there and what did he say to you?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Well, you have to ask him what happened. I can't speak for him. I will never do that.

But on my part, yeah, the 3-2 game, and it's not like, you know, even in ATP tournaments, sometimes we'll try to -- players or opponents will try to get in your head and will try to play around the lines of the court.

That's okay, but it's also I think okay for me to step up for myself and be like, Look, I'm here to compete, and I'm not going to let my opponent kill the time and try to, you know, kill the rhythm on my serve.

So that was it for me. Just trying to stand up for myself. Then, I don't know, it escalated quite quickly for some reason. Yeah, for somebody that followed my career for a while, I'm rarely in these situations. I think with any player I have good relationships with.

Yeah, it was very weird, in a way.

Q. Felix, as far as you're concerned, Team World had the advantage of being up 2-0 in your match. In a sort of way, did you feel any extra pressure to get that third point? In other words, maybe not let the team down and be the one to lose a point.

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, well, always feels better to get a point for the team. I'm not going to lie.

For sure, before the match, you always have those butterflies, and even more when I play in team events, but historically I have been able to play well in team events, so I was always, I also have this confidence that I trust myself and I know I can show up and give my best effort for my teammates.

But I don't think extra pressure. I think it was fantastic that the guys got us with a lead, 2-0 lead today, and are playing well out there in doubles. First time Team World has been in that position, so we'll try and take advantage of it.

Q. You talked earlier this week about gaining control of a match and getting back to the way you can play, which is great. Sounds great. But you walked the walk tonight. You dominated all the key categories. What level of satisfaction do you take from everything you had hoped to do this week kind of coming to fruition tonight?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, a lot of satisfaction. Hopefully I can take all the positives and dwell on that for the rest of this competition and then for what's to come for me.

I have always believed to let the racquet do the talking. I think that's what I did tonight. Happy with my performance, for sure.

Q. Patrick, it's a mental game out there. Monfils is going to be Monfils, whether it's Felix or whoever, going to play some head games with people. What about the way Felix handled everything tonight? Obviously the break in the first set was huge, but what did you make, looked a lot like some stuff from last year at the Laver Cup?

VICE CAPTAIN PATRICK McENROE: It was awesome. I mean, Felix, as he said, has had a great week of practice. I know I was super excited to be back here with him, knowing that he's had some struggles in the last couple of months.

So to see him pick it up every day and come out and play with great authority tonight, as he said, you know, stand up for himself in a pressure situation, which is exactly what he should do.

Gael Monfils is great for tennis. I have been lucky enough to be involved in this competition since it started every single match. I have never seen one match that the guys didn't give 110% and still play with a certain fun, because it's a team aspect and play to the crowd a little bit. That's awesome. We need that in tennis.

At the same time, you know, all these guys are pros and this, I have never ever once thought that this is an exhibition, ever. I have never seen one player, and all the all-time greats have been in this competition, I have never seen one of them play like it was an exhibition for one point.

(Questions in French.)