THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 5, 2026

Felix Auger-Aliassime

Press Conference

F. AUGER-ALIASSIME/A. Davidovich Fokina

6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Felix, could you share some of your thoughts on the match today.

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, it's one of those Grand Slam matches that you remember. I've played a few over my career. Some I've lost. This one was an important one to win. Obviously it would have been tough to lose that one.

I'm very happy with the way I handled things, with the way I competed, and the way I finished the match eventually.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. At the end of the fourth set, what were you telling yourself internally to get yourself over the line? But also when the match ended, what was the interaction at the net?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: So for me what's important is the intentions that you have on the court. So at the end of the fourth, I'm up, I'm up a break, but every point I reset and I have to have clear intentions.

I don't have regrets, so to speak, about the end of the fourth. I had 15-40. He hit a backhand on the line. Then I had a great return. I had a look at the backhand, and I went for the big shot cross-court. I missed. So okay, you can think back. In the end, I had the right intention.

Obviously it was a shame I wasn't able to hit some first serves. He went for it. He got fortunate. Then that whole thing happened.

At the end, what I was thinking about 5-All tiebreak, is just, okay, try to keep the right intentions, try to play the right shots. If you miss, you miss. Obviously there was a bit of tension involved.

I think that mindset helped me to keep going in the fifth and play the right way.

Q. I wanted to ask about the point in the fourth set. Even though you were on the losing end of a point like that, do you still get enjoyment out of that?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: It was insane. Best point I've ever played, just 'cause that live reaction from the crowd. Now I can talk about it. When you have the full roar of the crowd, the full crowd up on their feet while the point is playing on, it shook me, like, middle of the point.

I'm running to the ball. I was kind of like, yes, smiling to myself. I was, like, thinking I have to make it, but I missed. It's still funny. Obviously the situation of the match, it wasn't, let's say, the most important point, so to speak.

But, yeah, it was the best point I've been a part of for sure in my career.

Q. There was interaction between you two at the end. What was that about? And your thoughts on playing Novak. Third time you've played.

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Well, the interactions between him and I, I don't want to get into that. If he wants to come in here and talk about it, he can. But he knows my opinion.

That's one of these things that I have differences with people in my life on tour. They know what I think. That's the most important.

Now what I can say, though, is that I think the rule has to change. I think that obviously as long as the rule is like that, a player will use it to their advantage.

I think that it's very simple: if you're hurt bad, or whatever you're hurt, while the game's going on of your opponent, in the middle of the game, the opponent is serving, the shot clock is on, basically when you're hurt bad, you're forfeiting every point until you can call the physio. If the physio helps you recover, you play your service game. If you're hurt bad, then you retire, obviously.

But to stop in the middle of an opponent's service game and to be able to call the physio, I think that's a disgrace of a rule. I don't see any other sport where you can do that. I mark my words. It's a disgrace of a rule.

So that's it.

Q. Have you spoken to anyone, any official, about that?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: I didn't need to speak about it. The conversation is ongoing. But nobody's taking decisions. You know what I mean? Like, yeah, it will come in the future. No. It's simple: 2027 comes, you change the rule, end of the conversation. Enough discussing.

Q. Is your inner monologue, what you're telling yourself, is it always as clear as the way you described it?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: I think it's more and more clear over the years. I think because I try to be very disciplined with the work that I do, not just on the court, in the gym, but off the court as well, in the hours in between.

I prepare for these moments. I prepare mentally a lot. So yeah, I do feel that my inner monologue is more stable throughout the years and more positive.

Also at the end, I'm not in my 30s, but in my young career so far, I faced a lot of different situations. This is one more.

Q. You haven't played Novak since a few years ago. What changed in terms of your tennis? Where do you see yourself, what you expect from the match? What is your advantage and what is Novak's advantage?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Look, it's simple, I need to play my best. There's no going through if I don't play my best. The game plan is quite simple. Yeah, I hope that I can show that I've improved as a player.

It's a big opportunity. It's a big honor for me to play this match. Playing here is, yeah, it's one of those matches that you want to have and that you train for and prepare for.

I can only say good things about Novak because, again, now that I'm a tennis player - I think as a kid I didn't appreciate it as much - but now that I'm a player, the load of work he's done over the years, I mean, I'm not even near any of that. Just to think about it, it's crazy. You get dizzy just to think about it. Huge respect to him.

I have to say, he's been very generous with his time. I've reached out to him at times to ask him questions, pick his brain. I love to listen and to learn from older players, generations. He's been very generous with his time, as well.

Huge respect to that, not only as a player, but as a person.