Auger-Aliassime discovers Djokovic's great virtue: "Neutralizes your game until you make a mistake"

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Felix Auger-Aliassime fell just short of the semifinals of Wimbledon after losing to Novak Djokovic in a marathon match that surpassed five hours in duration. The Canadian once again came close to a significant victory against one of the greatest players in history but ended up conceding at crucial moments to a rival who, once again, showed why he remains one of the most reliable competitors on the circuit.

Despite the disappointment of the defeat, Auger-Aliassime reflected critically on the match. The Canadian admitted he is still searching for the formula to turn these tightly contested matches into victories and explained in detail what makes Djokovic so special when matches reach their most intense points. According to the Canadian, the difference was not so much in winning shots as in the Serbian's ability to stay solid under pressure.

Auger-Aliassime's assessment after his defeat to Djokovic

"To sum it up, it was an incredible battle, an incredible fight against a legend of our sport. That's how it is. Obviously, it's very tough for me. It happened to me in the quarterfinals in Paris and now here. I've had other opportunities in my career where tightly fought matches didn't go my way either. I'll have to see what I can do to make it happen next time. For now, I can be proud of the fight and move on."

The difference was in the crucial moments

"I had a lot of confidence. I don't think that was the issue. After leveling to one set each, I lost focus a bit in a game in the third set after over two and a half hours of intense concentration. In the fourth set, I was lucky to come back because he also had a slight drop and gave me a chance. But in the end, he once again proved that he plays better when it matters most. He is more solid than me when the important moments arrive."

Djokovic's secret, according to Auger-Aliassime

"It's a matter of playing styles. His is more consistent and solid in the most pressure-filled moments than mine. His serve is probably one of the best in the draw. And with the return, we know what he does. On every second serve, he makes you play one more shot and always returns deep. We have seen it for many years, but it's still impressive that he can do it over and over again."

The lesson Auger-Aliassime takes from Wimbledon

"Until the end, I believed I could win. I tried to serve well, not risk too much, and choose the smartest shot at each moment. There was a game where I had 0-30 on his serve and missed a parallel backhand. If it goes in, maybe I go up 0-40. Do I regret not continuing to build the point? Perhaps. But these are decisions you make on the court and have to live with."

Why is it so difficult to beat Novak Djokovic?

"I have seen many Novak matches over the years. Even when he wasn't at his best, like that final against Roger here in 2019, he always gives the feeling that in tiebreaks or crucial moments, he serves well or makes you play an extra shot. He keeps you in a position where you can't attack him, neutralizes your game, and waits for your error. I am a more offensive player by nature, but I will have to learn when to attack and when to be a bit more solid."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Auger-Aliassime descubre la gran virtud de Djokovic: "Neutraliza tu juego hasta que fallas"