Rejuvenated Auger-Aliassime ready to take fight to Alcaraz

Winning head to head

Just as importantly, the 23-year-old Auger-Aliassime is that rare breed, a player who has a winning record over Alcaraz, leading him 3-2.

That puts him in an elite bracket; Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev are the only two members of the world’s top 10 who also have a winning head to head over the Spaniard.

It doesn’t mean Auger-Aliassime is going to beat the world No 3, but it does mean he won’t have that all-encompassing fear that so many players have when they face him.

“It’s the first time we play on clay, so that’s obviously different,” he said on Saturday. “I beat him in indoors. He beat me twice in Indian Wells. So very different conditions now. First time since US Open a while ago when he was just 18 that we played in a Grand Slam.

“All these things together make it different, but obviously, it’s as big of a challenge as it gets. You play one of the best players in the world. So it’s always a special match against him or Novak or Jannik (Sinner).

“We haven’t played in a while, but these guys are always a big challenge, but I’m feeling better and better. I feel like I have more and more belief in my game and what I do. So, yeah, I think I have all the reasons to believe that I can win, but obviously, we know the challenge. It’s a tough one.”

Last year, Auger-Aliassime struggled, going 23-19 on the year. This year, he entered Roland-Garros with a 17-12 record, having reached the final in Madrid to confirm his improvement, with his ranking rising to No 21 as a result.

Auger-Aliassime: “You have to play your game”

Against Alcaraz, he intends to play his game and not worry about what’s coming from the other side, unless he needs to change tack during the match.

“You have to play your game,” he said. “I don’t know, if a player comes here and says he’s not going to play his game, he’s lying or he’s going to say he’s able to do things that he doesn’t know how to do, he’s lying again.

“Obviously, I go out tomorrow playing what I know, doing what I do well. If I do that, then let’s see during the match how it goes. Obviously I’m always open to adapt as the match goes on to see what I’m doing well or less good and what he’s doing well, and adapt my game and my tactics.

“But I’m going to prepare like I prepare for every match, focus on myself, and let’s see what level he brings, let’s see what I bring. It’s going to be a good match.”