"Love-hate relationship" - Auger-Aliassime on his relationship with tennis

| by Jamie Malachy

Felix Auger-Aliassime has shared a heartfelt love letter to the sport of tennis in a video made for the ATP social media channels.

During the video, the Canadian expresses his struggles and affections for the game that has given him so much, in a rare and candid poetic expression of his love for tennis. The full quotes from Felix's letter can be read below.

Dear tennis, I remember when I was first introduced to you, I was 3 or 4 years old. It really was love at first sight for me. I always remember having a tennis racquet in my hand, going to the tennis court. So the first meeting was as good as it is now. You have given me a lot of different things.

You’ve taught me a lot of great values of perseverance, acceptance, resilience, and just also the pleasure of competing. The pleasure of digging deep within yourself and finding ways to improve. So all these values are such important things to learn. Well, sometimes it's hard to love you.

Felix Auger-Aliassime opens up about tennis dream
Felix Auger-Aliassime opens up about tennis dream

It's kind of a love-hate relationship in a way, because you challenge me and you challenge all players to push themselves to be better all the time and to accept losses. I think setbacks, doubting yourself at times too, that's the tough part about it. But at the end it all makes sense when you learn from those times. And it makes sense because you learn a lot about yourself and you improve as a person.

There's been many good moments for me, fortunately. But I think actually winning in Rotterdam in 2022 was kind of that moment where everything made sense. Just everything clicked. That was probably one of the best feelings I’ve felt on a tennis court. I hope that our relationship stays healthy. I know I’m going to be challenged but I hope that I have a long relationship with you and that I grow into the sport. Love, Felix.

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