Auger-Aliassime outspoken about Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal

Auger-Aliassime outspoken about Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal

It's been an anomalous Madrid tournament, with a rain of injuries heavily affecting the proceedings and leading to the unexpected final between Andrey Rublev and Felix Auger-Aliassime. The Canadian tennis player in particular è made it to the last act of the competition after no less than three withdrawals by his opponents: in the sixteenth round Mensik forfeited, in the quarterfinals Jannik Sinner did not even take the court, and in the semifinals Lehecka also had to raise the white flag during the match.

Auger-Aliassime è was very clear in the press conference: "Have I made progress on clay? I wouldn’t say so. We have to keep in mind that this week è unique, we have to be realistic about it. I’m not forgetting, this è that’s the reality "” the Canadian candidly explained.

"When there are many injuries, we tend to think that it’s not a coincidence. I think I can speak for many players about the fact that we all have minor problems during a two-week tournament: a little bit of tension here , a little bit of discomfort there, a cold or something like that. But then whether it is enough to withdraw, that è another matter. I think it is personal for every player, è something athletes" live with. 

"The specific and strange thing about tennis è that outside of the first round, where a lucky loser canè enter, itè s not like in a team sport, where there canè be a substitution. And so you create a situation like tonight or in the quarters with Jannik. That è the only difference, but in every sport there are always injuries. È only here we cannot replace the player".