It’s a Moment for Felix Auger-Aliassime and the Sport

14 February، 2022

18 1 minute read

Felix Auger-Aliassime has a real shot to do something special, which is to help the world get over the Big 3. The stylish Canadian finally broke through to win his first ATP title by decisively thumping Stefanos Tstitsipas 6-4, 6-2 in Rotterdam. It has taken him nine tries to grab a trophy, having made all those finals. But consider who else he had to beat in this tournament: Andy Murray, Cam Norrie and Andrey Rublev. Quality opponents.

He’s starting to believe, isn’t he?

Currently ranked a career-high #9 and going up, Auger-Aliassime has been on the brink of a breakthrough for seemingly ages. But that’s the thing– his age– he’s only 21 years old. It’s what gives us hope that this player, at long last, represents someone with enough glamor and enough chops to lead tennis out of the Big 3 Era.

Here’s the deal. Many of the world’s current next-best, after the Big 3, might actually be too old to ever approach those guys’ vaunted accomplishments. Being honest, at age 26 with only one Grand Slam title, it’s highly unlikely Daniil Medvedev can ever capture 20-plus of those elite prizes, and he knows it. Never mind that Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are still out there for potentially another few years. Players in their mid-to-late 20s with similar problems include: Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev, Matteo Berrettini and Rublev.

But Felix? He’s got time.

Auger-Aliassime is proving can hang with the best in the world. At the 2022 Australian Open he held a match point against Medvedev in the quarterfinals. If Auger-Alaissime converts that, he’d have played Tsitsipas in the semifinal, the guy he just beat, then who knows.

Last year, FAA figured out how to solve Roger Federer on grass in a tough 3-setter at Halle. That match revealed a glimpse of very tangible problem-solving ability.

Here’s a look at the gifts Auger-Aliassime has going for him and why he could take the edge off losing the Big 3 to retirement.