As FAA prepares for Alcaraz, he can draw on good memories (vid)

–

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. – Félix Auger-Aliassime is 3-0 against wunderkind Carlos Alcaraz.

Which isn’t quite what it might seem, but it true nonetheless.

The first time (at the 2021 US Open) Alcaraz was a kid, out of gas by the time they met in the quarterfinals. And he retired early in the second set.

In Davis Cup last fall, Alcaraz had just come from winning the US Open. And yet, he played well; so did Auger-Aliassime.

In Basel a few weeks later, Auger-Aliassime was in his happy place on a super-fast indoor hard court. And he said Alcaraz was never able to set up his game.

Here’s what Auger-Aliassime said after escaping six match pionts against Tommy Paul in the round of 16 (a first in his pro career), and how he was looking ahead to facing the Spanish world No. 2.

(Subtitles for the French-impaired).