The Canadian rising star on testing Nadal to the limit, having the nerve to hire and fire coaches and finally breaking his finals hex
Only a few weeks ago, in the final days of May, Félix Auger-Aliassime put himself within touching distance of history. For four gruelling hours, he faced Rafael Nadal in his temple, Court Philippe Chatrier, and matched him all the way. Unafraid at the beginning then unmoved as he trailed by two sets to one, Auger-Aliassime became only the third man ever to force Nadal to a fifth set at Roland Garros.
But he could not finish it. Nadal did what he always does there, elevating his level precisely when he most needed to. It was an immense effort from the challenger, but afterwards, he says, he was emotional. He felt so close to victory. It had also come four months after losing to Daniil Medvedev in five sets at the Australian Open quarter-final, which he had accepted with a smile on his face even after holding match point. It hurt.