ITF

OLYMPIC GAMES ITF World Summer 2021 11 This year's Finals will be played across three cities – Madrid, Innsbruck and Turin – from 25 November-5 December, with Canada drawn alongside Kazakhstan and Sweden in Group B. The inaugural instalment of the revamped competition in 2019 went some way to confirming the prominence of Auger-Aliassime and, given the weapons in their arsenal, Canada as a prospective global superpower. Auger-Aliassime made his competition debut that year and contested the opening singles match of the final against Roberto Bautista Agut as Canada were edged out by Nadal- inspired Spain in the title decider. The potential of Auger-Aliassime and that of Canada in global team competition would appear inextricably linked, with both seemingly on the brink of something special. "As a team, we always believed in our chances and the fact we were able to reach the final in 2019 was amazing," said Auger- Aliassime. "We knew we had a great team, and that was without Milos [Raonic], so to reach the final was possibly unexpected, but now we really believe in our chances to go one step further. "It is great that Denis [Shapovalov] and myself, who are so young in our careers, have been able to play in a final. I truly believe that we have what it takes as a team and as a nation to win that trophy in the years to come." Like so many players, Auger-Aliassime's progress has been rapid, but he did not appear at the business end of the men's game by magic. As part of Canada's victorious 2015 Junior Davis Cup by BNP Paribas team alongside Shapovalov, he gained insight into what success on the world stage feels like. Twelve months later Auger-Aliassime was present as Canada succumbed in the final to Russia, while in 2014 he had been a member of his national team as they finished runners- up at the ITF World Junior Tennis Finals in Prostejov, Czech Republic. He went on to reach No. 2 in the junior world rankings and claim the 2016 US Open boys' title, making it back-to-back Junior Grand Slams for Canada following Shapovalov's triumph at Wimbledon earlier that year. Twelve months earlier, he had topped the podium in the boys' doubles in New York alongside Shapovalov. It was during those formative years that the necessary building blocks were put in place and important foundations laid. In a sense, it was almost textbook development, while Auger-Aliassime's experience of junior tennis is one he values enormously. "Juniors was really important and very competitive," added Auger-Aliassime. "It's a high level of competition and it teaches you how to deal with pressure and expectation and how to handle yourself in those moments. "It was really informative and I'm glad I went through that process of playing Juniors and playing events like Junior Davis Cup, and I keep great memories from our win in 2015. "Again, we were coming with a strong team – almost the favourites – and we had high expectations, but we did the work and won. That accomplishment was an amazing feeling. "We were so proud we were able to do this for ourselves but also everybody back home: the coaches, the people at the federation and everyone who helped us in that process when we were kids. "It was a great feeling to win that trophy and if I could live a moment like that again, it would be special." Auger-Aliassime celebrating on court under a global spotlight is not too difficult an image to picture, not now at least. It was all but a fantasy, however, when he was sat at home watching television back in 2008, but that is the power of Olympic legacy. That young boy has grown into man and has dreams to realise. Next stop, Tokyo. n Right Auger-Aliassime at the 2014 ITF World Junior Tennis Finals in Prostejov Below Canada were crowned Junior Davis Cup champions in 2015

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