Alcaraz sends ‘no friends’ message ahead of Auger-Aliassime clash

Félix Auger-Aliassime works on his upper-body strength

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Carlos Alcaraz has sent a ruthless message to Felix Auger-Aliassime, with the pair set to meet in the Swiss Indoor semi-final on Saturday. Alcaraz defeated fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreño Busta in straight sets to set up the final four clash with the 22-year-old who believes he is in the form of his life.

It will see him take on his fellow starlet and friend Auger-Aliassime, but the US Open champion is putting their friendship aside ahead of this weekend’s semi-final. Speaking after his quarter-final win he said: “It’s difficult to play against a friend like Pablo, we share every day, we go to have dinner, lunch – everything we’ve done together this week, every week, every tournament, even in the academy, we train together as well

“So it’s difficult to play against him. I always support him and always want [him] to win every match. But obviously on court there’s no friends – you have to be focused, you have to go for the match, and that’s what I did.”

Victory over Carreño Busta carries on Alcaraz’s remarkable run in 2022, with Saturday’s match, the 19-year-old’s ninth semi-final of the season. Despite his recent impressive form, the Spaniard has struggled against his friend Auger-Aliassime.

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The pair have met twice on the ATP Tour. First time around Alcaraz was forced to retire from the clash due to injury at the 2021 US Open, before the Canadian got the better of him at last month’s Davis Cup.

As a result, Alcaraz is once again expecting another tough matchup in their meeting on Saturday. He commented: “Well as you said last year [at US Open 2021], it wasn’t my 100 percent but in the Davis Cup, we played a great match from both parts.

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“I was tired, of course, but I gave everything and he deserved the win. I know he’s gonna be a really tough match. He’s playing really well. He had great victories this year. Of course, at the end of the year as well. 

“I have to be really focused to learn from my mistakes in the past matches and, yes, I will try to show my best tennis against him, 100 percent. I’m really looking for for tomorrow’s match.” 

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