Félix Auger-Aliassime set for US Open semifinal, sparks inspiration for Montreal youth

Montreal’s Félix Auger-Aliassime has passed another big test at the US Open, knocking off No. 8 seed Alex de Minaur of Australia 4-6, 7-6 (7), 7-5, 7-6 (4) to reach the semifinal of the Grand Slam tournament. This marks the first time since 2021 that Auger-Aliassime has reached the semifinal at Flushing Meadows.

Montreal tennis coach Simon Larose knew Auger-Aliassime at a young age and provided insight on what this potential Cinderella story can bring to Montreal youth.

“At the US Open right now, I think what’s happening is that he gained in confidence winning a couple of matches, because he had never done really good at the US Open and when Félix flies and he’s not thinking out there, he can definitely be one of the best tennis players in the world,” said Larose.

Larose, a former professional tennis player and director of the High Performance Program at the Club Sportif Côte de Liesse CDL tennis club, previously coached 18-year-old Victoria Mboko. The country was captivated as she won the National Bank Open in Montreal in August.

“The youth are looking at this being inspired for sure. And we saw this summer, too, with Vicky. I coach a bunch of girls, and, you know, they went to see her matches, and Vicky was talking to them and all that. Like, they just got inspired, and they’re actually… Their level goes up just with that,” said Larose.

Larose explained how in the past, there wasn’t as much caliber of tennis athletes in Canada and with rising stars such as Genie Bouchard it showed that “we can do it even if we’re Canadian” Larose said. He adds that this trajectory has inspired youth across Quebec and the country.

Inspiring the next generation

Those youth include Sophia Xie, a 15-year-old tennis player coached by Larose, who says her inspirations come from both Mboko and Genie Bouchard, who have helped cast a spotlight for young athletes around Montreal, Quebec, and the country.

“It’s really great that we have people that are older than us that we can look up to who are succeeding again,” said Xie.

“These people, these women, are very confident, and they have a great fighting spirit, and they also believe that they can make it. And I think that’s the biggest quality that they have to make themselves be successful.”

As for Auger-Aliassime, he will now face world No. 1 and defending US Open champ Jannik Sinner Friday night.

“Sinner right now is… Looks like he’s almost unbeatable. The way he’s striking the ball, the heaviness of his shots, his movement, his serve, his returns. I mean, he’s crushing everyone right now at the open. So, Félix is going to have his hands full,” Larose explained.

“Félix is going to have to serve enormous to be able to beat him. Also return really well. I mean, Sinner gets a lot of free points on his first serve. So, I think Félix is going to have to try to put those first serves deep to his backhand, which is very, very hard to do,” He said.

“Sinner is not going to miss and if Sinner has an opportunity he’s going to step in and make you pay for it.”

Larose says the mental game is going to be important for Auger-Aliassime, saying that he needs to find ways to win and never give up.

“Félix can, you know, really play at a high, high level, like with the best in the world when he’s on at his high level and funny enough, Sinner lost one set in the whole tournament, and it was against a Canadian,” said Larose. “The challenge is now becoming even higher than it was in the first rounds and even quarter-finals. This is a different beast in front of him.”

Auger-Aliassime said on Wednesday afternoon that, “It’s not over. There’s still, you know, some tennis to play, and the biggest challenges, you know, are yet to come. So, but you know, that’s what I live for, that’s what I train for. So, I’m going to show up and be ready for my match on Friday.”

The semifinal matchup will start at 7 p.m. in New York.