Felix Auger-Aliassime Aims for Second ATP Finals in Shanghai

SHANGHAI, China — Felix Auger-Aliassime is eager to secure his spot in the Nitto ATP Finals during his time in Shanghai. The Canadian tennis star returned to the court following a memorable wedding in Marrakech two weeks ago.

“Honeymoon? This is our honeymoon, a Shanghai honeymoon,” Auger-Aliassime joked in an interview with ATPTour.com. He is accompanied by his wife, Nina, as he prepares for his first match since reaching the semi-finals in New York.

Currently ranked 10th in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin, Auger-Aliassime is just outside the qualifying positions for the Finals, with the ninth-seeded player sidelined for the year due to an injury. His wedding on September 20 was attended by over 120 guests at the Selman Marrakech hotel.

Reflecting on the day, Auger-Aliassime described it as “flawless,” emphasizing that the heartfelt speeches shared among family members were a highlight. “It was the most beautiful and touching moment because you don’t get to speak like that to each other often,” he said.

As an accomplished horse rider, Nina included equestrian elements in the wedding, allowing guests to enjoy cocktails nearby the stables. Auger-Aliassime expressed gratitude, stating that Nina understands the sacrifices he makes as a professional athlete.

“She’s understood my world from the beginning, and that’s helped our relationship,” he said. “Our sports are very different, but there are similarities in how technically sound you have to be in both sports.”

Auger-Aliassime aims for a significant milestone, needing just one win in Shanghai to reach 250 career victories, as per the Infosys ATP Win/Loss index. He holds a 34-19 record for the year.

“I’m extremely motivated [to qualify],” he stated, expressing his desire to push through to secure a place in Turin. After a challenging spring, he feels his performance improved in the summer.

Alluding to his past performances, he noted, “It wasn’t perfect, but I was improving until my last tournament.” As he gears up for his match, Auger-Aliassime opens his Shanghai campaign against an unnamed opponent on Saturday.