Félix Auger-Aliassime is ready for Madrid

In an interview given Sunday, Auger-Aliassime, the world’s 10th racket, said he was pleased with his level of preparation as he approached his first match in the tournament scheduled for Tuesday.

I played every week on clay that I could play with. I didn’t win as much as I wanted to, but I played and spent time practicing. I came in good physical shape with the games played, things learned and hopefully I can play well this weekhis first explanation.

Although he acknowledges that the quality of the players present is always very high at Masters tournaments, he expects him to do well there.

” For me, there is no reason to worry. It just learns from what’s going on to see how I can do better. Ultimately, I really want to play at Roland-Garros. We’ll see if I win the games, but I feel like I’m doing work that is heading in the right direction. “

In the second meeting of the 2022 grand slam, Auger-Aliassime hopes his playing style will be more offensively focused. He talked about being brave and knowing how to take risks when necessary.

At the start of the year I have, it’s hard to do better. You want to keep winning, but I haven’t always played the way I should. I’ve learned these past few weeks and hopefully this will help me all the way to Roland-Garros.

Madrid’s geographical location at altitude could be an advantage for him, especially on duty. But in light of his recent results, he doesn’t want to put too much pressure on himself.

It is normal to be disappointed. I want to win. Last week I seeded first and I lost. Or else I will go to tournaments where I know I have a chance to win and I will lose. Then I just want to accept what’s happening and I try to learn from what happened.

My expectations and ambitions are always very high. However, I live well in defeat. When that happens, I try to do better.

When he thinks about his goal of staying on the best racket in the world or of players rising to the top and where expectations are constantly measured in terms of achievements, Auger-Aliassime wonders.

Sometimes I tell myself that’s tremendous pressure to manage. But it is also where you want to be. It is a privilege to be in this position. Ultimately, I’d rather be Top 10 now, be seeded first in the Masters 250 or be well ranked here (in Madrid) than vice versa. he continued.

” The truth then would be No. 1 you wherever you play. I have never been in this position in all the tournaments. But if one day this happens, I have to be prepared to accept this situation. “

never simple

In Madrid, the 21-year-old Quebecer had a first-round bye. For his debut on Tuesday, he will have an appointment with a player from qualifying.

If he wins, he will immediately find himself in the round of 16 where the level of talent is in concentration immediately very high.

I approached all the games the same way. I don’t see any pressure this week or last week. Every time I try to win and that’s it.

In the face of the fact that he is seen spending more time practicing than on the courts playing, Auger-Aliassime said he is just trying to make the most of each day.

There is no emergency. I have to accept both win and loss. I can’t promote that music. I have no choice. The best thing I can do is win the next game I play he concludes.

– Based on an interview with Carole Bouchard for Radio-Canada Sports