Felix Auger-Aliassime split from his coach, Frederic Fontang, after losing to Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
The Canadian narrowly missed out on a place in the Wimbledon semi-finals, losing a thrilling five-setter, 6-7 (10-12), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (4-10) on Centre Court.
Then, in one of the most shocking coaching moves in recent memory, Auger-Aliassime split from Fontang, whom he had worked with since 2017.
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Only time will tell if Auger-Aliassime has made the right decision, but it’s certainly a big risk.
Felix Auger-Aliassime takes major risk splitting from his coach after reaching Wimbledon quarter-finals
Auger-Aliassime was a fifth-set tiebreak away from reaching the last four of Wimbledon, pushing arguably the greatest player of all time to his limit.
And even in defeat, the 25-year-old returned to his career-high ranking of fourth in the world.
Live ATP Rankings
- 1. Jannik Sinner – 13,450 points
- 2. Alexander Zverev – 8,480 points
- 3. Carlos Alcaraz – 8,160 points
- 4. Felix Auger-Aliassime – 4,740 points
- 5. Alex de Minaur – 4,110 points
- 6. Ben Shelton – 3,770 points
- 7. Novak Djokovic – 3,760 points
- 8. Daniil Medvedev – 3,670 points
- 9. Flavio Cobolli – 3,460 points
- 10. Taylor Fritz – 3,365 points
He is playing some of the best tennis of his career, having made the quarter-finals or better at three of the last four Grand Slams, and has made a step forward at the Masters 1000 level, too.
Felix Auger-Aliassime’s Grand Slam record
| Grand Slam | Best performance | Latest performance | Win/Loss record | Win % |
| Australian Open | QF – 2022 | 1R – 2026 | 13-7 | 68% |
| French Open | QF – 2026 | QF – 2026 | 10-7 | 59% |
| Wimbledon | QF – 2021, 2026 | QF – 2026 | 11-7 | 61% |
| US Open | SF – 2021, 2025 | SF – 2025 | 14-8 | 64% |
So why risk changing coaches now?
We usually see players move on from coaches when they are on a poor run of form, not when they are at the top of their game.
If the defeat against Djokovic caused the split, you’d surely have to question the decision.
Losing such a tight match cannot be the reason you move on from a coach who has been by your side for nine years.
Or can it?
It could be argued that Auger-Aliassime realised he needed to change something to start winning these close matches.
Perhaps he figured Fontang had taken him as far as he could, and that if he is to start challenging for Grand Slam titles, he needs someone else in his corner.
If that’s the case, then yes, it’s a risky move, but a commendable one at that.
What Felix Auger-Aliassime and Frederic Fontang said after their split
Auger-Aliassime took to Instagram to announce the end of their partnership.
“After nearly ten years of working together, it has recently been decided that Wimbledon would be my last tournament with Frederic [Fontang] by my side as my coach,” he said.
“Today, I want to express my deepest respect, gratitude, and admiration for his dedication and the passion he brought every single day to helping me achieve my goals.
“Since I was 16 years old, he has guided my development and helped me experience incredible moments through this sport. He has also been by my side during the toughest moments of my career. In those difficult times, I always found in him the calm, composure, and wisdom I needed to overcome those challenges.
“Looking back today, I can say that beyond being an outstanding coach, he has been a true mentor throughout my journey into adulthood.
“Fred, thank you for leading by example throughout all these years together. I wouldn’t be the player I am today without you. I wish you nothing but the very best in your future endeavours.”
Fontang shared a similarly heartfelt message on Instagram a day later.
“A chapter of nearly ten years as Felix’s coach is closing. What a wonderful adventure this was! I had the privilege of accompanying an exceptional athlete, but above all, an endearing young man, who over the years became a man of great human values,” he said (translated from French).
“Together we rode well and achieved magnificent sporting goals: quarterfinals in all Grand Slam and Masters 1000 tournaments, two semi-finals at the US Open, two year-end ATP Finals qualifications, two Masters 1000 finals, a bronze medal in the Olympic Games, Davis Cup winner, nine ATP titles, and a world 4th place finish.
“Felix, thank you for your trust, listening and commitment to the work all these years.
“Also, a big thank you to our entire family for their unwavering support, first and foremost, of course, Marie, Malika, and Sam throughout this journey, as well as those who have joined us along the way, Nina and her parents, not forgetting Timmy!
“On the strong foundation we have built together, I am confident you will continue to reach even greater heights. I wish you with all my heart to achieve all your dreams, both personally and professionally. Fred.”
