Felix
Auger-Aliassime commented on his separation from Toni Nadal after they decided
to take a break in their professional relationship. The world No. 21
acknowledged that he has a good relationship with the coach but decided to
reduce his team to just three people: his father, his lifelong coach, and the
physical trainer.
The
23-year-old has had a good performance at the French Open, with victories over
Yoshito Nishioka (No. 70), Henri Squire (No. 221), and the 15th seed Ben
Shelton. In the fourth round, he will challenge the third seed: Carlos Alcaraz.
Auger-Aliassime
on break from coach Toni Nadal
The
Canadian confirmed at the beginning of May that he was no longer collaborating
with Toni Nadal. After Indian Wells, they decided to take a break, and he asked
his father to join his team, although he did not rule out the possibility of
working again with the former coach of Rafa Nadal.
Less than
two months later, Felix had his best performance in a Masters 1000, reaching
the final of the Madrid Open without even being among the seeds, which allowed
him to return to the top 20 after several months: "I have a lot of respect
for Toni, and we have a good relationship. A while ago, I decided that I wanted
to have a smaller team, with my lifelong coach, my physical trainer, and my
father,” Auger-Aliassime said at Roland Garros.
“I have
learned a lot from Toni regarding the philosophy he has applied to tennis and
his experiences with Rafa. I really liked his approach that you have to push
yourself every day, be humble, and assume responsibilities in difficult times.
I think I accept difficulties better and learn more from defeats thanks to this
approach," the former world No. 6 added.
Felix’s
next challenge will be against world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz in their first
meeting on clay. The head-to-head record is 3-2 in favor of Auger-Aliassime,
although the Spaniard won their last two encounters.
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.