Tennis has given Felix Auger-Aliassime rather a lot. The Canadian has lifted 4 tour-level titles in his profession, rising to a career-high No. 6 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in 2022.

Aged 22, his journey to the highest began 19 years in the past in Canada, the place he first took to the tennis courtroom.

“Dear tennis, I remember when I was first introduced to you. I was three or four years old. It was really love at first sight for me,” Auger-Alassime stated. “I bear in mind having a tennis racquet in my hand, going to the tennis courtroom, so the primary assembly was pretty much as good as it’s now.

“I remember when I played my first match in Quebec City, Canada. I was only six years old. Actually coming to play a match for the first time and having an opponent there and a referrer. It was quite special.”

A love letter to tennis 💌

Hear @felixtennis talk about his relationship with the game; detailing the highs, lows, and hopes for the longer term 👇https://t.co/7ZrqQ6wj6l pic.twitter.com/YWe056LERO

— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 22, 2023

Since then, the Canadian has loved highs and lows on the ATP Tour. After shedding his first eight tour-level finals, he lastly captured his first title when he triumphed in Rotterdam in 2022.

“Sometimes it is hard to love you. It is a kind of a love-hate relationship,” Auger-Aliassime stated. “You problem me and also you problem all gamers to push themselves to be higher on a regular basis and to simply accept losses…

“There have been many good moments for me, but I think winning in Rotterdam in 2022 was the moment where everything made sense. Everything clicked.”

Reflecting on his journey, Auger-Aliassime checked out how the game has formed him as an individual.

“You have given me a lot of different things,” the Canadian stated. “Taught me a lot of great values. Perseverance, acceptance and resilience. Also just 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. I feel like as you grow in life and I feel like you have taught me a lot of that.”