Felix Auger-Aliassime follows Rafael Nadal's footsteps after reaching..
Ever since 2015, Felix Auger-Aliassime has been one of the most promising youngsters in the world of tennis, achieving things that his coevals could have only dream about. Super talented Montreal native played in the first Futures final at the age of 15, lifting the first trophy later in 2016 and becoming one of the youngest Challenger champions in Lyon 2017, still before turning 17! Despite a knee injury in December 2017 that ruined the beginning of the previous year, Felix almost cracked the top-100 in 2018, gathering the experience and chasing much higher goals in the current season. Things were not that good for the young gun in the first six or seven weeks but there was certainly nothing wrong with Rio de Janeiro run, defeating Fabio Fognini, Christian Garin, Jaume Munar and Pablo Cuevas to become one of the youngest ATP finalists at ATP 500 level.
Laslo Djere halted him in the title match but Felix had only looked forward, advancing into the semi-final in Miami as a qualifier and advancing into another ATP final in Lyon, a week before Roland Garros. Dealing with a groin injury, Felix grabbed three wins to book the place in the second ATP final where he stood no chance against Benoit Paire, barely finishing the match without the retirement and withdrawing from Roland Garros. After a well-deserved rest, Auger-Aliassime was ready to make a professional debut on grass and, like in the entire career so far, we were thrilled with the way he mastered the fastest surface, ousting Dustin Brown in the quarter-final in Stuttgart and propelling himself into the final when Milos Raonic gave him a walkover due to an injury.
Matteo Berrettini prevailed in two close sets to leave Felix empty-handed once again but the Canadian should be very proud of what he has shown in the last four months, standing on the verge of the top-20 and earning another nice milestone before at the age of 18. By reaching three ATP finals (the youngest player in the ATP final on grass since 1993 and Andrei Medvedev), Felix has become the second active player who did that before turning 19, leaving Richard Gasquet and Andy Murray on two and following one of the most excellent teenagers in the Open era who had played in eight ATP finals ahead of the 19th birthday. The Spaniard had the opportunity to claim the first ATP title already at the beginning of 2004 in Auckland, still at the age of 17, losing that one and having to wait until August when he conquered Sopot to kick off his fantastic tennis journey.
In the following season, Rafa needed just five months and a week to become the second-best player in the world behind Roger Federer, winning titles in Costa di Sauipe, Acapulco, Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome, adding the first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros just a couple of days after turning 19. Thus, Felix has joined an exclusive list and it will not be easy for the upcoming young stars to match his performance and book the spot in at least one ATP final at such a young age, not to mention three in less than four months.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2IUk9oN
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