Grateful for a doubles title, Felix Auger-Aliassime longs for a singles' crown

     The young Canadian, Felix Auger-Aliassime is going through what many players in their career's experience -- the desire to capture their first singles title. There are many ATP and WTA players who lift their trophy in their 20s. Some feel the enthusiasm in their 30s and a percentage play their entire careers and never have the experience. But all plans have their changes and priorities.

Auger-Aliassime just so happens to have gotten the doubles title first. 

     "It's a good thing to lift the trophy in Paris. I'm happy that I won a title...I'm still looking for that first singles title, but it will come when it has to..." the Montreal native had said realistically after winning his first doubles with Hubert Hurkacz at the Paris Masters. The Canadian acknowledges that he's had a combination of competitive blintzes as losing in opening rounds and going deep into semifinals along with 6 times make the finals. But it's been a tough year with the bushfires in Australia and then the world health crisis that caused postponements and cancellations, nearly destroying the ATP and WTA tours. Felix Auger-Aliassime knows that he's lucky to have captured a doubles title and now is trying to re-evaluate his skills and strategies if need be to up his level that bit to win in a final that he's made but never won. He's had his sick times where a heart operation was needed after his bouts with irregular heartbeats and one situation causing him to retire at the 2018 US Open playing his compatriot Denis Shapovalov. "I'm still good physically; I'm healthy and confident in my game that I can play well..." Auger-Aliassime comments but desires and that drive may take the Canadian on his way one more tournament that will end this season. The ATP Finals in London, Felix will be participating and the other comrades and competitors are all vying for the same thing. A few of the NextGen's have gotten their first singles title and Auger-Aliassime wants to join them in also having that in common. Denis Shapovalov has seen his career this difficult season have serious lags but he won his first singles title last year with the 2019 Stockholm Open. Australia's Alex de Minaur has 3 all in 2019 and Jannik Sinner won the 2019 NextGen ATP Final in Italy.

     Felix Auger-Aliassime will just have to dig in, become and stay tough and he knows what he has to do but hopes it will work. Felix vows that "I want to fight for the trophy and give myself a shot to win. It's the end of the year...I'm going to try to give everything I can."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3f1h199