Auger Aliassime Hires Ljubicic Ahead of Shanghai Masters

Felix Auger Aliassime has appointed Ivan Ljubicic as his new coach ahead of the Shanghai Masters, with the world No 5 seeking improvement in major tournaments after ending his partnership with Frederic Fontang.

According to tennis365.com, Auger Aliassime began searching for a new coach after splitting with Fontang following Wimbledon in July. Sports Yahoo reported the Canadian made the move after an early China Open exit.

Ljubicic, a former world No 3, reached the French Open semifinals in 2006 and previously coached Milos Raonic and Roger Federer, according to tennis365.com. He had also worked with the French Tennis Federation since 2022.

Auger Aliassime said he wants Ljubicic to help him handle important matches after learning daily standards from Toni Nadal earlier in his career.

"It's kind of a fresh start for me, having a new main coach. But one thing that I could think from Toni, there's so many things, but I think it's just the standard of, you know, how to approach every day. I was 20 years old, quite young in my career, and just the standard of making every ball count, every practice count, every match.

So I think I stepped it up with him. And one thing that I'm hoping to learn with Ivan, I hope to learn more than one thing. But there's one thing, it's to prepare myself for the big moments, you know, I think that's the main thing.

I think I've achieved good results in my career so far, but not the biggest results, you know, so hopefully that we can win big together," said Felix Auger Aliassime.

Sports Yahoo reported Auger Aliassime also discussed competing during a period when Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz faced injury issues. The Canadian said he remains focused on his own progress rather than other players' situations.

"I don't feel more pressure. I think I feel my own pressure every year. I'm trying to do better.

Sometimes in some years it was more difficult. I was far from what I was trying to achieve. Now I'm not so far, but yet I'm not there.

So I always have this personal challenge, this personal standard that I'm trying to put, you know, in every practice, every tournament. Sometimes you fall on it, sometimes a little bit under, but I don't feel like it's connected to the other players on tour. I mean, tennis will always be unpredictable.

You never know what can happen. Obviously, they've [Sinner and Alcaraz] dominated a lot, you know, but Sasha stepped it up and was rewarded big time this year. So looking at the Grand Slam year, it's been his year, three finals.

It's amazing. He deserves it. And next year should be interesting to see how things shape up and how other players can also try to establish themselves," said Felix Auger Aliassime.

Jannik Sinner's coaching situation remains a separate major storyline, with tennis365.com reporting uncertainty over whether Darren Cahill will continue after this season. Sinner previously praised Cahill's role alongside Simone Vagnozzi.