Is Felix Auger-Aliassime becoming the 'Golden Guy' of tennis?
"...To actually see them in person, it felt surreal at first, but I have got used to it and it's not overwhelming anymore," Auger-Aliassime said laughingly about getting used to seeing the top players in person around tournament venues. The Canadian teen knew he'd have to become accustomed to a new lifestyle when at 14 he started winning many ATP Challenger-level matches. He had gladly embraced the idea and was always ready to as a young child getting into tennis. "My dad is a tennis coach and he would bring me to all of his lessons...I was always around the tennis courts so I kind of grew up with a racket in my hand," Auger-Aliassime says.
But the young Canadian had other situations to overcome than trying to be good at tennis. The problem was heart palpitations. There may have been intermittent episodes, not much to panic about but later he was diagnosed with tachycardia, a condition where the heart rate shoots up too high. It was at the 2017 Challenger match in Guadeloupe when he'd gotten an episode and had to retire. With the rise in his impending stardom at tennis, he would have to correct that as well as perfect an otherwise great game. This was one of the things he'd have to do in his life, but the time came to a rising crescendo during the 2018 U.S. Open first round. The draw wasn't kind to the Canadian as he'd been given a Canadian comrade, Denis Shapovalov. "It's actually really tough to see him going out like this...that match is something I won't forget for a long time, " Shapovalov said. Auger-Aliassime was forced to retire when his heart started beating rapidly again and again...uncontrollably. It was an emotional time when there were no winners. The sight of Auger-Aliassime in pain and clutching his chest, grimacing as he walked fast to his seat was traumatic for all to witness on that day. Shapovalov ran up to his buddy comforting him. There wasn't a dry eye in the house as sympathies went out to Auger-Aliassime as his team looked on helplessly. Shortly after that, he'd get the needed heart surgery that would end his bouts and scary episodes of tachycardia and go on with his touring which turned a quite tainted time into a wonderful silver lining.
Felix Auger-Aliassime after the operation had gone on to play some magnificent tennis winning over top players as Lucas Pouille at the Rogers Cup in 2018. It was at the Rio Open he downed Italy's Fabio Fognini in straight sets back last month. He was on a roll and picked up respect and often apprehension from his opponents. It is his smashing overheads, his precise down-the-lines and his ability to move his opponents around to find an open court for winners is remarkable. Canadian flags would be seen waving in the crowds for Auger-Aliassime to see an 18-year-old demonstrate court maturity at his teen years. Stadiums would fill to know he would be playing and the drama would begin to build. In March started his climactic month to date with winning over Stefanos Tsitsipas at Indian Wells, Nikoloz Basilashvili and Borna Coric at the Miami Open both in straight sets with the first victory tiebreaks. He was the youngest to have ever made the semifinal round at the Miami Open and has come from being ranked in the 100s at the start of the season to now coming to his own at the top 30s.
Points that make Felix Auger-Aliassime a 'golden guy' in tennis are numerous but detailing a few: It is his ability to predict and compensate with his opponents on their next shot to counteract and turn it into a victory for himself. He has fast feet which may be attributed to his tall frame of 6'3". It's necessary to cover the court and Auger-Aliassime has no problem doing that. The Canadian teen continues to have the maturity on knowing what he has to do in key points and most times doing it. As he's said to commentators Brett Haber and Chanda Rubin on his sefond round qualifying win from Paolo Lorenzi "...on both sides, we didn't have one break opportunity in the first set...I felt like I had a little bit of an edge...I would make him play, make him move...I was able to do that on the tiebreak and get some points...I try to look at the positives and deal with that..."
Felix Auger-Aliassime is on a tear to capitalize on whatever breaks he may get from opponents and to move up the level of playing status and ranking.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2UcvcAW
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