Auger Aliassime Continues Pro Transition In Granby

Wimbledon junior champion Denis Shapovalov has been making headlines for his recent success at the pro level, but fellow Canadian and doubles partner Felix Auger Aliassime is primed to do the same this summer.

The 15 year old has enjoyed plenty of accolades at the junior level, with a current standing of No. 5 in the ITF Junior Rankings. Auger Aliassime reached the boys’ singles final at Roland Garros this spring and followed that up with a runner-up finish in the boys’ doubles final (w/Shapovalov) at Wimbledon.

Now, the Montreal native is turning his focus to the pros on the ATP Challenger Tour. He’s competing at home this week at the $100,000 ATP Challenger Tour event in Granby and hopes to use his time here as a valuable learning experience.

“It’s great to see the level of the Challenger guys and see what you have to work on to get to that level,” said Auger Aliassime. “Of course, they’re physically better. They have bigger shots, bigger serves. It’s good to see them play and good to see that I can compete with these guys.”

Last year in Granby, Auger Aliassime came through qualifying to reach the quarter-finals. At 14 years old, he became the youngest player to win a main draw match on the ATP Challenger Tour and the youngest player to break into the Top 800 of the Emirates ATP Rankings.

“Rewriting history was great for me,” said Auger Aliassime. “Just being able to reach a Challenger quarter-final for the first time was awesome.”

Shapovalov is joining him in Granby this week and the pair is also teaming up in the doubles draw. With both of them and another rising Canadian, Benjamin Sigouin, on the rise, they’ve all been motivating each other to keep taking their games to the next level.

“It wouldn’t be the same thing if it was only one of us,” said Auger Aliassime. “We keep pushing each other to always improve. And Denis is a great partner for me. We have a good energy and bond well together.”

Having already reached his first pro final this May at a Futures event in Spain, Auger Aliassime is eager for more success. His ultimate goal is to make it onto the ATP World Tour and experience the same level of success as fellow Canadian Milos Raonic.

“When I was about 10 or 11, he told us to just work hard and listen to our coaches. I mostly learn from watching him play matches and seeing him on tour,” said Auger Aliassime. “He’s a great role model for Tennis Canada and a great ambassador for the tennis community.”