Aliassime also lends a hand to Zverev and defends his season

Carlos Navarro - 8 Oct 2026 | 18:35
Felix Auger Aliassime ATP ATP Shanghái 2026 Ivan Ljubicic Toni Nadal

The Canadian spoke about the pressure without Alcaraz and Sinner in several tournaments, defended the performance of the German, and highlighted what marked him the most from his time with Toni Nadal.

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Auger-Aliassime spoke about Zverev, Ljubicic, or Toni Nadal.

Times are changing for Felix Auger-Aliassime. Renew or die, a maxim that takes on special relevance in a sport like tennis, where every detail matters and those who do not evolve are quickly buried. The ruthless pace of the circuit has been a double-edged sword for the Canadian: his consistency has allowed him to reach great heights amid the volatility of others, but his lack of bite in critical moments has condemned him to a glass ceiling that he now wants to break.

At just 26 years old, after marrying his partner and entering what should be his phase of physical and mental maturity, the player from Quebec has made substantial changes to his setup in his quest to achieve new goals. The bombshell was announced just a couple of weeks ago, when Felix confirmed the addition of Ivan Ljubicic to his team: the Croatian is leaving behind years of work with the French Tennis Federation to embark on a project with a grand goal: the major titles.

Aliassime reveals what he seeks with the arrival of Ivan Ljubicic

The Canadian confessed this before the ATP Shanghai 2026, where he will have an unmissable opportunity to gain a cushion of points that he needs. Notably, in just a few weeks, the part of the season where he defends the most points is approaching... and where it is most dangerous, as evidenced by his title in Brussels and his final in Paris. What does Felix aim for with the Croatian's addition to his team? The answer is very clear.

"One thing I would like to learn with Ivan (Ljubicic), although I hope to learn more than just one thing, is... to prepare myself for the big moments. That is the key. I have achieved good results in my career, but not the biggest ones. I hope that we can win great things together", Auger-Aliassime candidly confessed, aware that his performance in tense moments still keeps him away from the highest tier of the circuit's hierarchy.

This is the second occasion in his career where Felix will have a supercoach around him, although this time it will be solo, without the figure of Frederic Fontang who accompanied him from the beginning. The previous occasion paired the American with none other than Toni Nadal, an experience from which he also draws valuable lessons: "One thing I took from Toni... there are so many, but I would highlight the standard he sets for approaching each day. I was 20 years old, still very young, and the standard he sets is impressive: you have to make every ball count, every training count, every match count. I was able to take a step forward with him", he recalls with a smile.

Does Aliassime feel more pressure with Sinner and Alcaraz out of the circuit?

In a season with more open opportunities than ever, Auger-Aliassime was consistent, reaching the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and Roland Garros... but he fell just short of glory. Without Sinner and Alcaraz, is there more pressure for the contenders for each title?: "I don't feel more pressure right now. I feel my own pressure every season. I try to do better: there have been years when it was more complicated, when I was far from what I wanted to achieve. Now I am not so far away, but at the same time, I am not there. I always have my personal standards and challenges that I adhere to in every match: sometimes you get closer, others further away, but I don't feel connected to other rivals on the circuit."

Finally, Felix wanted to recognize and highlight the season of Alexander Zverev, whom he qualifies as the best at the Grand Slam level: "Tennis can always be unpredictable, you never know what is going to happen. (Alcaraz and Sinner) have dominated a lot, but now Sascha has stepped up and has been greatly rewarded this season. This has been his year at the Grand Slams, with three finals, which is an incredible achievement, so he deserves it. Next year, it will be very interesting to see how other players also try to establish themselves at the top." Will Auger be part of that new alternative? With Ljubicic on the bench, we will find answers very soon.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Aliassime también echa un capote a Zverev y defiende su temporada