Coaches Corner: How do you play successfully against Félix Auger-Aliassime?
Professional tennis coaches see more - which is why we simply ask how to play against the big players in the industry. In part 9 of our series, the Adidas scout - and coach Mats Merkel analyzes the Canadian newcomer Félix Auger-Aliassime .
by tennisnet.com
last edit:
May 09, 2020, 12:19 pm
Anyone who, like Mats Merkel, has been a Scout for Adidas for many years will see most players who finally make it onto the ATP or WTA tour at a very young age. Be it the Orange Bowl, the Eddie Herr International Junior Championship or the tournaments of Tennis Europe. But Merkel also has to deal professionally with adults: be it as a companion to Dominic Thiem or, even during his Adidas days, by Andy Murray. Of course, Mats Merkel also followed the rise of Félix Auger-Aliassime closely.
These are the particular strengths of Félix Auger-Aliassime
Félix is a player who has a very high intensity and is by nature very present on the pitch. He walks across the square with a swollen chest. Not that Félix is a show-off, not at all, he's very humble. The intensity mentioned is evident in the fact that Félix slides a lot across the pitch, regardless of the surface. He plays very well with the backhand, including the slice.
The first serve is okay, the second is not quite as strong compared to the other top players. Even with the forehand from the barrel you can see that it breaks away every now and then. Of course, he is extremely good at all the punches he has time for.
How do you play successfully against Félix Auger-Aliassime?
With Félix, you also have to make sure that you put pressure on him to challenge even the smallest of fine motor skills. The slice on the forehand, briefly chipped, is also a good means against Félix. Although he comes forward, he also likes to play from behind. I think he hasn't quite found his style of play yet. If you look at other players at the beginning of the clay court season, the results may not be there yet - but once they have played their way in, they stay with their game. And do it, no matter against whom. And Félix is still a bit missing: that he knows who he really wants to be on the pitch.
A few figures on Félix Auger-Aliassime (statistical disks refer to the past 52 weeks)
| Date of birth | Overall tournament wins | Tournament wins 2019 | Aces per match | Tiebreaks won | Decision sentences won |
| 08/08/2000 | 0 | 0 | 9.5 (ATP rank 14) | 63.4% (ATP rank 12) | 66.7% (ATP rank 8) |
Selected head-to-heads by Félix Auger-Aliassime
| opponent | Balance sheet |
| Rafael Nadal | 0: 1 |
| Daniil Medvedev | 0: 1 |
| Stefanos Tsitsipas | 2: 2 |
| Matteo Berrettini | 0: 1 |
| Alexander Zverev | 0: 2 |
| Gael Monfils | 0: 1 |
| Roberto Bautista Agut | 0: 1 |
| Fabio Fognini | 1: 0 |
| Denis Shapovalov | 1: 2 |
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