At just 14 years old, Felix Auger-Aliassime took a significant step in his career when he began training under the guidance of Guillaume Marx. What truly captured Marx’s attention about the young prodigy from Montreal wasn’t merely his impressive serve, breathtaking speed, or powerful forehand—though those were certainly noteworthy attributes.
“His determination was remarkable,” reflected Marx, who mentored Auger-Aliassime for six fruitful years. “Whenever he stepped onto the court, he truly believed victory was within reach. He was fully committed. That belief was what struck me the most.”
In recent times, the Canadian’s relentless spirit and unwavering belief have shone brightly, especially during this week’s US Open. Auger-Aliassime has taken the tournament by storm, overcoming formidable opponents—ranked No. 3, 8, and 15 in the world—to secure a coveted spot in the Grand Slam semifinals, an impressive feat he last accomplished four years ago.
Now at 25 years of age, he’s just two victories away from claiming his first-ever Grand Slam title. On Friday at 7 p.m. ET, Auger-Aliassime will face off against world No. 1 and defending US Open champion Jannik Sinner, with a place in the final hanging in the balance.
In their previous encounter, Sinner triumphed over Auger-Aliassime with ease. A mere three weeks ago at the Cincinnati Masters 1000 event, he dispatched the Canadian in straight sets with a score of 6-0, 6-2. Auger-Aliassime did display moments of resilience, breaking Sinner in the second set to take an early lead, but that effort wasn’t enough to turn the tide.
During that match, Auger-Aliassime, ranked No. 27 in the world, struggled significantly, recording no aces, tallying eight double-faults, and racking up 28 unforced errors. Such stats must drastically improve if he hopes to contend with Sinner.
“His serve is his most powerful tool, and it must be on point. A match without a solid serve would be tough, as he would be forced into lengthy rallies from his own service games,” warned Marx, now the VP of high performance at Tennis Canada. “For Felix to succeed, he needs to secure his serves and extend the sets. Then he can seize any opportunities that arise.”
In their last duel, Sinner broke Auger-Aliassime’s serve right from the outset, setting the stage for a lopsided contest. “That early break put immense pressure on Felix’s game because serve is his stronghold,” Marx remarked. “You can’t hope to defeat the world’s top player if your primary weapon is off-target.”
Fortunately, Auger-Aliassime’s serve has proved reliable at Arthur Ashe Stadium throughout the tournament. In a thrilling four-set victory over Alex de Minaur, he acknowledged in his post-match interview that while “it wasn’t always pretty” (with 50 unforced errors), moments of brilliance emerged. He finished that match with an impressive 22 aces and 51 winners after rallying from a set down.
“His fighting spirit has been commendable, and I believe he enters the next match confident, ready to capitalize on any openings,” Marx elaborated. “Of course, he’s up against an exceptional player who will create minimal chances, but if Felix maintains his current form, he’ll be ready to capitalize.”
On his journey to the semifinal, Sinner has been in extraordinary form, boasting a remarkable 26-match winning streak in hard-court Grand Slams. He has only dropped a single set at this year’s US Open, and that was to fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov. As a 20-time ATP Tour champion, the 24-year-old possesses an impressive collection of four Grand Slam titles.
As Auger-Aliassime strives for his own first title, he comes off a challenging couple of seasons marked by injuries and fluctuating confidence. Preceding the US Open, his performances in significant tournaments were lackluster—falling short of the second round in earlier Grand Slam events and exiting in the first round of the National Bank Open presented by Rogers in July. However, he has displayed solid play this season, carving out a couple of wins at ATP 250 events in January, marking Friday as his eighth semifinal appearance of 2023.
“Public perception wasn’t kind, largely due to his struggles in major events, but he has consistently been in the Top 15 of the (PIF ATP Live Race to Turin) ranking since the start of the year—this has boosted his confidence over time,” Marx stated.
Currently sitting at 10th in the ATP rankings, Auger-Aliassime is edging closer to his seasonal goal of breaking back into the world’s Top 10. He started the New York tournament ranked 27th, and thanks to his impressive performance, he has climbed up to 13th, marking his highest ranking in over two years. “I firmly believe he can achieve this goal,” Marx commented.
No Canadian man has ever triumphed at the US Open, but Marx contends that Auger-Aliassime has what it takes to make history.
“We know Felix can compete at a remarkably high level, and witnessing his return to such form in a Grand Slam semifinal is truly gratifying,” he noted. “He’s capable of greatness, and it’s wonderful to see him finally demonstrate his true potential.”
With a long-standing belief in his ability to win, Auger-Aliassime is poised for this next challenge as he prepares to face the World No. 1.
“His performance has been stellar,” Marx remarked. “He heads into this match with a fearless mindset, ready to seize any opportunities that come his way.”
After his recent victory on Arthur Ashe, Auger-Aliassime stood gleaming at the center of the court, declaring: “The greatest challenges lie ahead, and that’s what drives me.”
Next up is the formidable World No. 1, offering Auger-Aliassime a golden opportunity to make history as the first Canadian man to reach a US Open final.
