DUBAI DUTY FREE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

February 28, 2025

Felix Auger-Aliassime

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium

Press Conference

F. AUGER-ALIASSIME/Q. Halys

5-7, 6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You just came back from a semifinal playing in Doha. Back in the finals. How physically demanding does it get? How is your mentality for tomorrow?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Very demanding. Obviously you try to prepare yourself for these type of matches and tournaments. I think the goal, even if it's extremely tough, I don't know what are odds, but when you sign up for Doha and Dubai, the goal is to win both tournaments. That's the ultimate goal.

I almost went to the finals in Doha. To play that many matches in two weeks, it's not easy. I'm not the only player feeling it. I think that's what happens sometimes in tournaments. I think maybe today was the least prettiest match I've played this week, at least for the first set, first set and a half. Then it got better and better.

Happy again that I pulled it through.

Q. After the first set, did you think to yourself three sets are normal, kind of business as usual?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: No, not really. Like I've been really trying to win in straight sets this week (smiling). Somehow I find myself in three-setters.

Ultimately you have to win two sets. Doesn't matter how. Not every week is going to be like this during a season or during a career. It happens.

I think the great thing is that even not playing let's say the ultimate best tennis every set, every game, I'm able to be in a final. That's positive. I'll for sure take that. Hopefully tomorrow I can play even a little bit better.

Q. You're the first Canadian male to be in the final here. Quite a lot of flags in the stands. Surprised by that?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, surprised. I guess the Canadians are quiet, but they're everywhere (smiling). Even saw some in Doha. You see some in Australia. Everywhere in the world.

Yeah, I guess we're international. I don't know what's the reason for that. I mean, I have a few guesses, but...

Yeah, it's good to see some Canadian flags always. People are always very positive and cheering me on. They love their local athletes. It's great to see that, yeah.

Q. Tomorrow you might be playing Tsitsipas or Griekspoor. What is your mentality against either of your opponents?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: I practiced Monday before the tournament with Griekspoor. He played unbelievable. I thought, like, if the guy's serving like this, it's going to be tough for anybody to beat him. Amazing match yesterday. Yeah, that would be a very tough match.

As well, Tsitsipas is the guy that you can never count him off. Like, he's always there. Even if one week he's struggling, he always fights, he's always there. We've always had some battles since we were kids.

In both ways it's a tough one. It's a final. It's the two best players in the week, so to speak. So yeah, let's see. But it's going to be interesting tonight.

Q. You say you didn't play the prettiest of tennis. How important is it to still get the win when you're not playing your best tennis?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: I mean, it's huge and I think it's super important because maybe in the year, I don't know, 15%, 20% of your matches that you win, you play great. If not, it's kind of a battle of playing well when you need to, finding solutions with how you're feeling that day, what your opponent is doing well.

One time I was speaking with Rafa at the academy, at his academy. That was one thing I asked him. He said for him that was a big difference between himself and other players that also play good, is the ability to win or to come through matches when he was not playing well. I've been a witness of that. I think that's obviously very true and a huge advantage that he had.

Q. Regardless of tomorrow, whoever you play, the start you have gotten off to this season, what kind of confidence will it give you going into the season?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, well, no, I seek confidence in two different ways. I think there's a confidence you get from preparation, which is very important. That's what you control. So I had a great off-season. How you manage your preparation, your body, your mind, being smart with what you need to work on, what you need to consolidate in your game.

Then the other part is winning matches. Obviously as you win matches throughout the season, you can't replicate that. Let's say the experience tonight, facing break points, difficult situations. Even at the end up a break, break points my way. But then I had to save some on myself after. These situations are tough to replicate in practice.

Coming through situations like this in matches, it's a huge confidence booster for me.