ITF

10 Summer 2021 ITF World For now, however, his on-court exploits remain of overriding importance. After all, Auger-Aliassime has long been identified as a headline act and someone with the potential to define and lead the next wave of the tennis glitterati. Dubbed a child prodigy from an early age, he has often been ahead of the game and in 2015 became the youngest player in history to qualify for the main draw at an ATP Challenger aged just 14. Fast-forward a couple of years and at the age of 18 he was the youngest player to crack the top 25 since Lleyton Hewitt in December 1999. He has since contested eight Tour-level finals without topping the podium, although these results allied to his performances at the Grand Slams suggest he is on the cusp of taking a big next step. He made it through to the round of 16 at last year's US Open and the Australian Open in February before going one further and reaching his maiden Grand Slam quarter- final at Wimbledon earlier this month. Auger- Aliassime's designs on mixing it with the sport's elite are there for all to see. "I feel ready to do that, but you have to confirm it by results," he added. "I feel like I have the level to be in quarter- finals and then eventually the semis. It's not that far away. What I have to keep in mind is that it's closer than I sometimes think. "That is why you stay tough, believe and give yourself chances. One day I'll find my rhythm and find the key to get through these matches. I just have to keep believing because I want to go to more quarters, semis and finals." Part of this evolution has seen Auger- Aliassime team up with Toni Nadal, the uncle of 20-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal and someone who won a stack of silverware alongside his nephew before they parted ways in 2017. The partnership is yet to produce the level of results which Rafa has become accustomed to achieving and, while there is no shame in that, Auger-Aliassime is convinced the union will deliver. His belief is that it is more long- term investment than instant dividend. "The work I have been doing with Toni has been consistent, intense and focussed and I like that," added Auger-Aliassime, who first met his new mentor in Monte Carlo two years ago while he was rehearsing his piano performance for the players' party. "When we first started working together, he told me that the next two years in my development are going to be important and by then I should be putting myself in a good position to be among the best players of the next generation. "We have just started that cycle, we are only a couple of months in, and there is some good work which has been done and hopefully results will come and the work will pay off later." While there is plenty of tennis to be played in the meantime, one tournament which is already flickering on Auger-Aliassime's radar is the Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals. Above Auger-Aliassime was crowned boy's champion at the US Open in 2016 Top Enjoying the players' party at The Junior Championships, Wimbledon in 2016

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