US Open: Another blow for Felix Auger-Aliassime

New York | He squandered 12 break points on 13 occasions, and a double fault on a set point against him in the first set. As has been the trend for several weeks, Félix Auger-Aliassime’s inability to assert himself during key moments contributed to his first-round elimination at the US Open on Monday.

““It’s such a disappointment,” Quebec sighed to reporters, nearly an hour after showing up at the exit door 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 by world forty-two Mackenzie McDonald.

A great disappointment, yes, because when he entered the small stadium 5 to face the American Mackenzie McDonald there, in front of a dense crowd, most of them chanting his name despite the nationality of his opponent, on the 15th.^H The favorite seems to be showing renewed confidence.

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And it wasn’t just an impression.

“My first round, and second round, was almost the best I’ve done since I took the competition back to normal.” [sans ses douleurs au genou]In Washington, for example,” Felix lamented.

Throughout the first set, this much assertiveness was already reflected in her tennis, which was not perfect, but had the advantage of being offensive.

Through some scoring spikes as well, to 0-15 or 15-30 on his serve, which Montreal realized it had been finding it increasingly difficult to do over his recent tournaments, precisely because confidence wasn’t always there.

Points he celebrated by waving his fist towards his chest, where his coach Frédéric Fontang, who is not the most brilliant, would occasionally stand to applaud him.

Nothing happens anymore

But that didn’t last, and from the third set, Auger-Aliassime started wasting more and more break opportunities, especially missing seemingly easy forehands.

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He realized it: during this group he was surprised by the form of McDonald, who beat him last year on the turf, and who seemed to be struggling physically for second place.

“I never expected, after the second round, that it would end this way,” he said. […] He pressured me as soon as I served the second ball.

He continued, “It’s a pity, because at the moment I feel I can’t take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way, whereas before, it was easier…”

Felix had three opportunities to correct the record at 5-4 in the fourth set. Golden chances to continue this match and perhaps to win the last round.

But each time McDonald managed to erase the break point. And that was the end of the US Open in Quebec.

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But he doesn’t want to get depressed

So, for the fifth time in his last six tournaments, Felix retired from the match.

And from the sixth place he occupied at the beginning of the year, he appeared in New York with the 15 shoes^H He is expected to fall further in two weeks after losing in the second round at the US Open last year.

His only victory since May 25th was achieved by the FAA two weeks ago against Italian Matteo Berrettini in the Cincinnati Masters. The 23-year-old is now down 14-15 this season after qualifying on Friday. The last months of the worst period in his career…

But contrary to his record, Auger-Aliassime on Monday refused to sink into negativity.

“I don’t want to sit around and tell myself that everything is not okay, that this is the end of the world. […] In training there are positives, and in matches too there are positive moments.

“Then, it’s about restoring confidence in matches, taking chances, because that’s how tennis is today. You have to take chances, not let them go.