Felix Auger-Aliassime makes his feelings known after opening-match loss to start 2025 season at United Cup

Felix Auger-Aliassime expressed disappointment over his opening match loss against Borna Coric at the 2025 United Cup. The latter trounced the Canadian 0-6, 6-4, 6-4, taking points for Croatia.

Felix Auger-Aliassime, the Canadian player who clinched the mixed doubles bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics, competed at the United Cup for the first time since October. His loss in his opening match in Australia didn't sit well with him.

In the post-match press conference, the 24-year-old opened up about feeling frustrated with the defeat, saying:

"I'm not worried. I'm a little bit like -- what's the word -- disappointed, frustrated a little bit obviously with the loss. Any loss is tough. But I'm also encouraged that for the first half of the match I was playing great. I couldn't really be playing better and then things got very difficult, but credit to him as well. He stepped it up. But I just know that it's important, yeah, to bring the best version of myself again in the doubles."

Auger-Aliassime paired with Leylah Fernandez for the mixed doubles match, defeating Ivan Dodig and Lucija Ciric Bagaric 6-3, 6-4 to surpass Croatia 2-1 in Group A. Talking about the win, the Grand Slam semi-finalist said:

"I've been in this situation a couple of years ago where we had a 3-0 start, 3-0 loss to the U.S., and then we ended up winning the whole thing. So I like these team events. It just gives you an opportunity to play another match and then play maybe another one. Even if you lose the first one, you can actually win the whole thing. So it's pretty cool."

---

Felix Auger-Aliassime talked about teaming up with fellow Canadian Leylah Fernandez

Felix Auger-Aliassime and Leylah Fernandez at the 2025 United Cup - (Source: Getty)

As promising Canadian players, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Leylah Fernandez catapulted their home team to Davis Cup and Billie Jean Cup victories, and showed admiration for each other before the United Cup 2025.

Excited about sharing the spotlight, Auger-Aliassime said (via the ATP Tour):

"It's cool to share the spotlight together more than once in a while. We know each other a lot more now than we did when [we first started out on Tour]. It’s nice that we have had more opportunities to be together, at the Olympics, in team competitions. We also had some good runs in tournaments at the same time.”

Fernandez also lauded Felix Auger-Aliassime's prowess on the court, saying:

"The amount of time and focus Felix puts into craft detail is just so high, and it’s very inspiring. That’s something that I have learned a lot [from him], because after a long season, sometimes you can lose focus, but all the time I see him it’s very high.”

Fernandez reached the doubles finals and singles quarter-finals at the 2024 Cincinnati Open. She also reached the singles semi-finals at the Hong Kong Open.