"I feel like I’m not the player I want to be”: Felix Auger-Aliassime reflects on emotional toll of defeat against Cobolli at French Open

Felix Auger-Aliassime admitted the emotional impact of his Roland-Garros exit on Wednesday after losing in four sets to Flavio Cobolli in the quarter-finals, saying he was “destroyed today” following a match that slipped away despite a strong start from the Canadian.

The fourth seed led by a set and a break but was eventually beaten 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The match turned during a pivotal third set in which Auger-Aliassime failed to convert seven break points, allowing Cobolli to re-establish control.

Cobolli, the world No.14, grew steadily into the contest under the closed roof in Paris, using consistent baseline depth to absorb pressure and extend rallies. Auger-Aliassime, who entered as the highest-ranked player in the top half of the draw, struggled to maintain control in decisive games.

Despite reaching his first Roland-Garros quarter-final and set to rise to world No.4 on Monday, Auger-Aliassime said the result reflected broader dissatisfaction with his current level, adding that he “usually handle(s) losses better” during his career.

Auger-Aliassime began the match in control, taking the opening set and establishing a break advantage early in the second. His aggressive positioning inside the baseline allowed him to dictate first-strike exchanges, particularly behind his serve.

However, he failed to sustain that advantage as Cobolli adjusted and gradually reduced free points on serve. The Canadian identified a missed volley as a key turning point in the third set, which preceded a shift in momentum. “I missed an important volley. It was a good play, a certain volley. I dumped the volley in the net and then break point. He returned good. I forced the forehand and then break back.”

From that moment, Cobolli stabilised his baseline game and extended rallies, forcing Auger-Aliassime into longer exchanges and reducing the effectiveness of his first shot patterns.

The Canadian said the shift came down to missed execution in key moments rather than a tactical overhaul from his opponent. “He started getting back into the match, playing a little bit better. I missed an opportunity there if I was more precise and clutch with my service game.”

Even as he generated further break opportunities in the third set, Auger-Aliassime failed to convert any of seven chances, a phase that effectively defined the outcome. He later summarised the pattern of exchanges in blunt terms. “I had some tough rallies. I didn’t have the chance. I didn’t have the look. I had to stay in the rally and he just did better than me.”

Auger-Aliassime also pointed to the conditions under the roof on Court Philippe-Chatrier, which produced slower and heavier conditions that reduced the impact of his serve and forehand. “Obviously, the first set is not really tennis. You’re just trying to manage to put the ball in the court. It’s indoor, but quite slow. Slow, heavy.”

He added that Cobolli adapted more effectively to the conditions, particularly in neutral rallies where the Italian was able to redirect pace and extend exchanges without taking unnecessary risks. “My serve didn’t have an impact. My forehand didn’t have an impact. He found better solutions than me. That’s what happened.”

The defeat also comes in the context of an inconsistent clay-court swing for the Canadian, who had struggled to build consecutive wins before arriving in Paris. Despite his run to the last eight, he acknowledged the emotional weight of the loss more directly than usual.

“I usually handle losses pretty well, I have to say. My whole career, I was going back to training with optimism and positivity. Now, I feel like I’m not the player I want to be. Today is a difficult day.”

Auger-Aliassime will nonetheless leave Paris with a ranking rise to world No.4 confirmed for Monday, though his own assessment of his current level suggests uncertainty remains around his consistency heading into the remainder of the season.