Back-to-Back Titles for Auger-Aliassime Boosts Turin Chances
via ATP Tour
Felix Auger-Aliassime is currently enjoying an eight match winning streak while capturing back to back titles in Florence and Antwerp.
The young Canadian has had a busy year and is now looking to clinch his first appearance at the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy. His victories at the Firenze Open in Florence, and the European Open in Antwerp have seriously helped his chances, as he is now ranked #9 in the world, and #7 in the year-end race.
Felix Wins Titles Now
Felix in ATP Finals:
Pre 2022: 0 wins, 8 losses.
In 2022: 3 wins, 1 loss.
Auger-Aliassime’s clutch factor was starting to be seriously questioned by many tennis fans and critics after he was unable to win even one set in his first 8 finals appearances. Felix has bucked that monkey off his back in 2022 by claiming two ATP250’s and one ATP500 in Rotterdam.
As one of the most highly touted prospects on the ATP Tour in the last 20 years, there was inherent pressure on Felix (called “The Chosen One” by fellow players) to realize his potential quickly.
And while he did make it to the Top 10 quickly, before he was 22, he failed to claim any titles. In reality, titles are not a necessary step into moving up the rankings, but they are a marker of how a player progression towards greatness is going.
He no longer has to read the jokes about finals ‘chokes’ and he’s got to be happy about that.
Auger-Aliassime’s Chances to Make ATP Finals
With his recent wins, Felix has pushed himself into a nice place to try and qualify for the ATP finals in Turin. He currently sitting 7th in the year end race.
Auger - Aliassime is only defending 90 points from a Vienna Quarterfinal in 2021, and 45 points from the 2021 Paris Masters, giving him a great opportunity to gain even more points on his competition with strong results in Basel (this week), and Paris (next week). He’ll also drop 90 points from Stockholm that was played the week of Nov. 8th last year.
It will be a tight race for the final qualifying spots for the ATP Finals, with Taylor Fritz and Hubert Hurkacz chasing Felix and Medvedev and Rublev still needing to confirm their spot.
There will be pressure for Felix to do well in Basel, and then again in Paris.
Hurkacz, Fritz, Medvedev and Rublev are all playing in Vienna, while Felix plays in Basel.
For more details on the race, read this article from the ATP.
Team Player Felix
via The Globe and Mail
While Felix made the QFs at the Australian Open and Roland Garros, losing close matches to Medvedev and Nadal respectively, he was disappointed to go out in R1 to Cressy in Wimbledon and R2 to Draper at the US Open.
So the Majors were overall a disappointment for Felix, but he was outstanding in team events in 2022… so far.
In January, he helped Team Canada win the ATP Cup with countryman Denis Shapovalov. The first (and maybe last as the tournament may change format and name) ATP Cup for Canada.
In September, after the early exit from the US Open, Felix joined Canada’s Davis Cup team in Valencia, Spain and got a crucial win over World #1 Carlos Alcaraz.
Then, later in September, Felix beat Novak Djokovic on Sunday of the Laver Cup to help Team World clinch their first Laver Cup title.
Felix has shown his ability to step up in the clutch moments in team competitions, and now he will look to continue driving that success into the ATP Finals and the Majors in 2023.