Happy Auger-Also is one of the names of the moment. The Canadian only conjugates the verb to win in recent weeks, with a streak just after the US Open 2022 which makes the rest of the circuit pale. Since his defeat against Jack Draper in New York, Felix has managed to defeat the number one in the world (Carlos AlcarazDavis Cup), to Novak Djokovic in the Laver Cup and, finally, winning two consecutive titles in florence y Antwerpbreaking the spell he had in the finals and placing himself with a sensational 3-1 in title matches this year. The one from Quebec pursues a place in the ATP Finals 2022 and a great performance in the ATP Basilea 2022 it would bring him closer to the target; meanwhile, he sat down with his teammates from The Slice in a very interesting interview in which he talked about the current moment of him, of Rafa Nadal and the importance of team events.
Two titles in a row, a splendid moment
“It has been an incredible run. I came to Florence as the first seed and I knew how well I can play indoors. I felt that since the US Open I have turned things around, I started training really well and playing very good tennis both in the Davis Cup and in the Laver Cup. I had bad luck in the first round in Kazakhstan, I lost against Bautista, who played very well, but I knew that I had confidence going into Florence and Antwerp. Of course, if you had told me that I was going to winning both tournaments in a row, something I’ve never done before, I’m not convinced that was possible. But yes, it was great, I played amazing tennis and I’m very happy with where I am right now.”
Break the curse of the finals, where until this year he had a balance of 0-8
“Yes, the balance this year is much better. We all know how great a relief it was to win my first title at the beginning of the year. It took a huge load off my shoulders, but the following finals are not much easier I think before I used to lose finals to great players, I lost to players better than me. I lost one or two where I didn’t play well at all. This year, in the last two finals I felt like, after all, I was a little better. , who was the most experienced player, and I delivered. But it’s never easy to win any match, especially in finals, where both players want victory so much, they are not easy matches to win”.
Were the ATP Finals a goal at the beginning of the year?
“Yeah, I was one of them. I started the season #11 in the world, and right after the Australian Open I was top-10 and something like #3 in the Race, so that was a goal from the start of the year. Now we’re at the end, giving that last push to qualify, so I’ll try to give absolutely everything. I’m trying to do my part and do what I can control. There were also other goals, of course, like winning a title or several, something that I have achieved, which leaves me with a great taste in my mouth. In general, I wanted to play well, at the end of the day what you want is to go out there and show your best version, to feel that you are closer to achieving everything for which you work”.
Match against Nadal at Roland Garros, where he was one step away from beating him (only match this year in which Rafa went to the fifth set in Paris)
“It was a strange game at times. I started very well and I thought I saw Rafa a little tense, playing short and making unusual mistakes. From the beginning I served really well, which always helps me. I had some space to hit the ball from luxury, to finish the points in the net, he felt that things were going as well as they could in the first set.Then, after a very close start to the second set, he had a break ball, he did not make it, and once he broke me for the first time I felt like things completely changed. He won the set 6-3, the next 6-2, and I thought: ‘Wow, I’m seeing what Rafa really is here’. And after being 2 sets to 1 below I felt physical exhaustion, and I stopped believing that I could win as I did in the first set.
However, somehow things changed again, I’m not sure how or why, but I shifted up a gear and started playing great again, I had some chances and I took them. It is true that when we started the fifth set, at that moment I really believed that I could win. We both held serve until the middle of the set… but in the end I didn’t feel that close to winning, honestly. When he got 4-3 up and I was serving, he started playing so aggressively, I don’t know how things started to go so fast, he was hitting some awesome forehands, passing shots, and all of a sudden he had lost two games, like this (finger snaps). He started playing amazingly, I was trying to hold serve… and the game was over. In the end I didn’t feel like I had such a big chance, you know?”
Felix, a team tournament guy
“The two team events this year have been incredible (ATP Cup, where they won, and Davis Cup), I feel that when I play these types of events I like to take a leadership role. I feel that responsibility to give my best, to do it from the bottom of me, that’s what I did in both tournaments, I was able to represent and give my best for my teammates, which has given me a lot of confidence. That has helped me throughout the whole season, So I hope we can finish things in the best way at the end of the year.”
