“There wasn’t going to be a miracle”: Auger-Aliassime forced out of Montreal

Félix Auger-Aliassime’s home tournament is over before a ball was struck. The Canadian, the big local hope at the National Bank Open and seed No.2, withdrew on Wednesday with a back injury sustained in training – and, in an emotional media appearance, walked through exactly how his week fell apart.

His spot goes to lucky loser Jaime Faria, who will now face Titouan Droguet in the second round.

The trouble began on Monday. “I felt a fairly sharp pain in my back on Monday afternoon at practice, when everything had been going well in my preparation until then,” he said. “Then, thanks to the tournament, I was able to get an extra day to try to get ready. Everyone did their best to give me a chance to compete.”

At first, he stayed hopeful. “On Monday I was a little surprised by the pain, because I’d felt good practically all year, and throughout my preparation here in Montreal,” he explained. “There was a bit of anxiety at first — would it last 12 hours, 24 hours? Straight away, the idea was to give myself time. When I found out the match could be pushed to Wednesday, honestly, I was very positive. I thought I’d be able to play as if nothing had happened. It’s a pain I’ve had in the past. Sometimes it lasts 12 hours, sometimes a few days.”

This morning I was in a mindset that it was going to be fine, but I had to accept, three or four hours before the match, that there wasn’t going to be a miracle.

The warm-up on Wednesday ended the illusion. “I went to warm up on court at 3pm and basically I couldn’t serve. So it was impossible for me to play at the level competition demands,” he said. “This morning I was in a mindset that it was going to be fine, but I had to accept, three or four hours before the match, that there wasn’t going to be a miracle.”

The disappointment was raw. “The word that comes to mind is ‘a shame’,” he said. “I arrived here in good conditions and I was ready to play in front of the Quebec crowd. It’s a little sad, it’s a shame – but life goes on, the season goes on. I wish the tournament and the organisation the very best of luck so it’s a success anyway.”

“Do the necessary tests”

His exit caps a miserable week for the hosts: Auger-Aliassime (withdrawal) joins Denis Shapovalov and Gabriel Diallo, who both retired, while Alexis Galarneau, Duncan Chan and Liam Draxl were all beaten – a Canadian wipeout on home soil.

The greater worry now is the calendar. Auger-Aliassime had arrived at 30-14 on the season, with a title and a career-high ranking, hoping to snap a run of four straight opening-match exits in Montreal. With the US Open starting on 30 August, time is short. “Tomorrow I’ll do the necessary tests to see how this injury evolves and how we can plan for what comes next,” he said.

In the reshuffled order of play, Daniil Medvedev’s match with Botic van de Zandschulp will now be played at 7pm on Central Court.