Felix Auger-Aliassime’s opportunity to reach a first Roland Garros semi-final slipped through his fingers on Wednesday afternoon in Paris, where he lost to Flavio Cobolli in four sets.
After his three-hour, 25-minute defeat, the Canadian opened up on his disappointment.
“I'm in a place right now with my tennis career that it's tough,” Auger-Aliassime said in his post-match press conference. “I'm destroyed today a little bit. It's tough. I usually handle losses pretty well, I have to say. My whole career, I was going back to training with optimism and positivity. Now I feel like I'm not the player I want to be, so today is a difficult day.”
Auger-Aliassime arrived in Paris holding a 4-4 record on clay this season, with his best result a quarter-final showing at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Monte-Carlo. The 25-year-old Canadian then earned wins against Daniel Altmaier, Roman Andres Burruchaga, Brandon Nakashima and Alejandro Tabilo to reach the quarter-finals at Roland Garros, but was ultimately unable to add to his two previous major semi-finals (US Open, 2021, ’25).
“Every tournament is an opportunity, and after a disappointing clay season, I tried to do better here. I won a few matches, but when I look at my clay season overall, I did not quite improve the way that I wanted to or the way that I might have anticipated compared to other seasons on clay,” Auger-Aliassime further reflected. “There are further improvements that are possible for me, but I'm definitely not satisfied with the way things went today.”
Auger-Aliassime has been the highest-seeded player in the top half since the start of the third round following Jannik Sinner’s shock second-round defeat to Juan Manuel Cerundolo last Thursday.
With Novak Djokovic also out and Carlos Alcaraz not in Paris due to injury, the World No. 6 Auger-Aliassime was unable to capitalise on the opening.
“As years go by, I think I'm growing more and more impatient,” Auger-Aliassime said. “Now you know me better. I'm 26 this year, and I'm not improving the way that I wish, so that's why I'm not feeling great today.”
After 80 minutes of action on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Wednesday, Auger-Aliassime led 6-4, 3-1. However, the nine-time tour-level titlist crucially lost serve in the fifth game of the second set, which proved to be a turning point.
“I missed an important volley. It was a good play, serve and volley. I dumped the volley in the net and then on break point he returned good,” Auger-Aliassime said. “After he started getting back into the match, playing a little bit better. I missed an opportunity there if I was more precise in clutch with my service game. But that's what turned. After he was the better player.”
Auger-Aliassime is next due to compete on grass but is aiming to reset in the next week.
“I need time, maybe a week, to clear my mind and project myself into the rest of the season and the rest of my career,” Auger-Aliassime said.
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