It will be a homecoming for Félix Auger-Aliassime this week in Quebec City for Canada’s second round Qualifiers tie against France. His first Davis Cup appearance in his native province will fittingly come where he grew up and where he fell in love with tennis.
Before taking the court at Centre Vidéotron, Auger-Aliassime graciously accepted to open up about his childhood, playing tennis with his dad, and what it means to have this opportunity. This is what he wanted to share with Team Canada fans, in his own words.
I grew up in a peaceful, healthy, balanced environment were the world felt like a safe place. I would ride my bike around my neighbourhood. I would go to school and then to the tennis courts and to the playground with my friends. Everything was positive and it felt like all the opportunities were there. I only have great memories from my childhood.
My dad had a passion for tennis before I was even born. When a father is not only able teach you, but also transfer that passion to his kids, it's an amazing thing, because it allowed us to be very close, to be a fan of the same thing in life, and to talk about it quite often. Yes, it can create tension for certain families, but for us, it was very healthy. We had these rules where we would come home for dinner and we wouldn’t talk about what happened on the court. It meant we were able to have two different relationships. One as a dad and a son and then one as a coach and a player. He was very fair with me. He pushed me hard; he tried to show me discipline and work ethic. He wanted me to be ambitious and to have high standards. But at the same time, he was always very supportive and very positive when I did good things. Everything came hand in hand. As I was growing as a tennis player, my dad also grew his coaching career and his academy. I give him a lot of credit because his tennis journey started well before I ever hit a ball.
Tennis in Quebec City has grown tremendously over the past 20 years thanks to all the great Canadian players we have. People are more interested, they’re more knowledgeable about the game, and more kids are picking up a racket. Now we're at a place where all the tennis clubs, the academies, and the summer camps are full.
I often went to see the WTA women’s event we used to host, but it's going to be amazing to have Davis Cup come to Quebec City. I'm very, very excited for this. I've always loved playing Davis Cup. All the guys from this generation we’re friends first before being colleagues, before being competitors on the court. To connect with them, to play as a team, to try to win as a team, it's the best feeling. I like to play for something bigger than myself. In the past, it has brought the best out of me, and I hope it does the same this weekend. It’s going to be about how I handle the pressure moments, if I can play my best level when I need to and to be clutch under pressure. I'm motivated and I'm in a good place in my life and career. I feel like I am clear on the way I want to play and where I'm heading.
If you’re new to Davis Cup, expect an unforgettable experience. You’ll see tennis from a different angle. You’ll see the relationship between the players and the captain, their energy. It’s guaranteed matches, guaranteed excitement and you’re with the players from the first point to the last. It's different than watching a tournament. We’re playing for our country against another one. You can get loud and cheer as crazy as you want from the first point. I remember watching a tie in Montreal on Court Rogers when I was younger, and it was the best time I ever had.
So, get ready Quebec City. You’re our home court advantage and we can’t wait to feed off your energy.
See you soon.
Allez Canada!
Félix
Photos by: Mathieu Bélanger/Tennis Canada
