Felix: Final Losses 'Tough To Accept', But 'I'll Try Again'
Felix Auger-Aliassime lost Sunday’s bett1HULKS Indoors final in straight sets, slipping to 0-6 in ATP Tour finals. But his opponent, World No. 7 Alexander Zverev, had no doubt that it’s only a matter of time before the Canadian breaks through.
“Felix, you’re an unbelievable player. I know it doesn’t mean much right now, but I’m sure you are not only going to win one title, you’re going to win multiple, multiple titles in your career, bigger titles than this,” Zverev said during the trophy ceremony. “We know each other incredibly well… you’re going to be lifting a winner’s trophy very soon.”
The 20-year-old was left searching for answers after his disappointing performance against the top seed. After an impressive win against second seed Roberto Bautista Agut in the semi-finals, Auger-Aliassime wasn’t sure why he was unable to find his best tennis against Zverev.
“Tough to say. [For it to happen] again in a final, it’s tough. I don’t play good [in finals]. I’m not able to play my game,” Auger-Aliassime said. “It’s just tough to accept, so I don’t have much to say outside of I’m disappointed with my level today overall and I’ll try again.”
The Canadian admitted nerves might have played a role.
“For sure,” Auger-Aliassime said. “I’ll try to work and find away around it.”
One reason to remain optimistic is that at only 20, Auger-Aliassime has already played in six tour-level finals. When the Canadian made the Marseille championship match in February, he became the youngest player to reach five tour-level finals since an 18-year-old Rafael Nadal at 2005 Miami.
“That number is good,” Auger-Aliassime said. “But one day I’ll need to find a way to win one of them.”
Auger-Aliassime is the fifth seed at this week’s bett1HULKS Championship. He will play Egor Gerasimov in the second round.