Felix Auger-Aliassime (AP Photo)
“I’ve been coming here since 2018. For some of you it might be the first time you’re watching me tonight,” he said of the place, where he made his Grand Slam debut, back in 2017 in the qualifying competition. The Canadian, ranked 25, went on attack mode to put out the third seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4, 6-4 and take his place in the US Open fourth round. This is the first time Auger-Aliassime has made the second week of the tournament since he made the semi-finals here in 2021, his best result in a major to date.
“The last two years have been tough, I don’t see anybody on Tour and I don’t think they see me either,” he said. “But having played these guys, even Jannik Sinner, who is kind of the same age as me, it’s different,” he said. “Obviously it helps that I was also at a good level at a young age, and now I have to challenge these guys and get back up to a higher level of consistency.”
“I’m still young, but it’s been a few years and I’m working my way. “When I came on Tour you had to play Novak (Djokovic) or Rafa (Nadal), guys you grew up watching. It’s tough to have that same kind of belief.