After false start in Montreal, FAA begins again in Cincy

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The circumstances for Olympic bronze medallist Félix Auger-Aliassime were hardly ideal, as he headed home for a rare week in Montreal on the heels of his mixed-doubles triumph in Paris.

And so, as he takes the court Wednesday in Cincinnati against qualifier Aleksandar Kovacevic, it’s almost the “official” start to his summer hard-court season.

A delayed flight meant an arrival late Sunday/early Monday. morning. And on Monday, the practice possibilities were … limited.

The transition from red clay to hard courts, the change in balls, the change in weather – it was a lot to try to adjust to in a little more than 24 hours.

Pouring rain no problem for FAA (vid)

Auger-Aliassime’s only “real” practice, then, was with an Aussie ranked No. 62.

Who knew, less than a week later, that Alexei Popyrin would be holding up the champion’s trophy?

Auger-Aliassime got a hero’s welcome when he took to the doubles court with lifelong pal and fellow Québécois Alexis Galarneau.

They were smacked around a bit by Aussies Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson. But at least Auger-Aliassime got some match time before his first-round singles vs. the rising Flavio Cobolli of Italy.

In between, Auger-Aliassime had a number of commitments he was determined to fulfill – which was probably the main reason why he didn’t just skip the tournament and start fresh in Cincinnati with a little rest.

Also – he only gets to play at home once every two years. So it was hard to miss.

Here is he talking about his role as spokesperson for the Saint-Justine’s Hospital foundation.