QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN

February 20, 2025

Felix Auger-Aliassime

Press Conference

F. AUGER-ALIASSIME/D. Medvedev

6-3, 0-0 (Ret.)

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Congrats on reaching the semis. Now you reached the semis with one walkover, one withdrawal. These circumstances are not new to you, I think it happened before. Some say it's a blessing, some say it's a curse. For you, does it give you more confidence, does it affect you negatively?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: I mean, no, I don't know how this can affect you negatively. None of it is my fault, obviously. Every match is different also. I think obviously the best scenario is to win your match in two sets, that's the best scenario. But if you go through winning one set or not playing, well that's the way it is, and then you get ready for the next day and so on. So not a bad thing at all.

Q. I mean, does it affect your rhythm?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: The rhythm, no. I mean, maybe if you don't play at all. Today I step on the court, I warm up, I played one set. It was good. I felt the center court, so it's not bad in a way, yeah.

Q. Were you shocked when you saw Medvedev withdrawing or you noticed during the first set that he's not moving well?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: No, I didn't notice. I didn't know. I guess he was hiding it well because it was impossible for me to know that he was not feeling great.

I think it was something to do with illness, which, you know, that's why I think he didn't, well he said on the court he didn't want to shake my hand or the umpire's hand in case of a virus, so I understand that.

That's the tough thing with tennis is if you don't feel great you can't go on the bench and have a teammate play or get replaced. It happens. I was in Rotterdam just two weeks ago and I had to withdraw myself also from my first round match. It happens during the season, yeah.