ATP Halle: Federer-conqueror Auger-Aliassime also at the start in 2022
Federer conqueror Felix Auger-Aliassime will also serve in Halle from 2022 to 2024. “I don't come to lose,” says Canada's super talent confidently.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Nov 11, 2021, 08:30 am
When Roger Federer triumphed for the first time in the final of Germany's largest ATP lawn tennis event against Nicolas Kiefer in Lindenstadt in East Westphalia in 2003, Felix Auger-Aliassime was barely three years old. In 2021, 18 years later, the young Canadian, who is usually only called "FAA" in the tennis scene, sensationally defeated the meanwhile ten-time record tournament winner in the round of 16 of the 28th NOVENTI OPEN in three sets - it was Federer's earliest defeat in his " Haller living room ”at all. “Felix is rightly considered a super talent and this year's grass season and the semi-finals at the US Open were particularly impressive. It's nice that our efforts to make a long-term commitment have paid off, ”said tournament director Ralf Weber, who provided Auger-Aliassime with a three-year contract this week.
For Auger-Aliassime, who, like the 19-year-old “Maestro”, celebrates his birthday on August 8th and was allowed to train with his Swiss idol at the age of 17, it was a fantastic debut at the ATP 500 event: The individual competition was played out "FAA" advanced to the semi-finals, in doubles he even reached the final in the OWL ARENA alongside Miami winner Hubert Hurkacz, but lost it to Kevin Krawietz and Horia Tecau. “Felix made an impression in any case. He is both athletically and personally a gain for the tournament, "says Ralf Weber, who with this commitment continues to rely on the next generation in tennis:" Medvedev, Zverev and Tsitsipas are already established among the absolute world leaders, players like Auger- Aliassime, Sinner or Shapovalov are slowly pushing their way. We want to push this generation change at our tournament and rely more on promising talents ”.
Zverev, Federer, Medvedev at the start
The 21-year-old Auger-Aliassime is meanwhile after a strong season (US Open semi-finals, Wimbledon quarter-finals, Stuttgart finals, Melbourne 2 finals) shortly before jumping into the top ten of the world rankings for the first time, the distance to Jannik Sinner (ATP 10) only 132 points. And position twelve in the so-called “Race to Turin” shows what constant season the young Canadian will play in 2021. One reason for this is certainly a special addition to the coaching team: Toni Nadal, long-time coach of the Spanish "matador" Rafael Nadal and better known on the tour as "Uncle Toni", joined Auger-Aliassime's supervisory staff in Halle since the clay court season he was already there. “I think Toni can help me to reach my potential. I want to get into the top ten in the world and fight to win Grand Slam tournaments, ”is the ambitious goal of the eleventh in the world rankings.
"To be able to compete against Roger in Halle and then also to defeat him on his favorite surface, grass, was amazing, something very special", said the son of a Togoer and a Canadian who is now at home in Monte-Carlo, who is self-confident after this year's semi-final gives: “Of course I don't want to do worse in 2022, it won't be easy with the strong competition. But I don't come to lose. ”Challenges in the fight for the coveted trophy include tournament ambassador Roger Federer (ATP 16), US Open champion Daniil Medvedev (ATP 2), Olympic champion and Germany's number one Alexander Zverev (ATP 3) , Russia's tennis star Karen Khachanov (ATP 29) and Kei Nishikori from Japan (ATP 48).