A steady if unspectacular season comes to a close for Canada’s Auger-Aliassime

Canada’s Felix Auger Aliassime started the year at No. 21 in the world rankings and finished the season in the same position. His 2020 campaign was steady if unspectacular as growth in some areas was stymied by an inability to take the next step on the ATP Tour.

While the missed opportunities may sting, the Montreal native, who turned 20 in August, has time on his side. Auger Aliassime was a middling 23-19 this year and remained stalled in his pursuit of a singles breakthrough, going 0-3 in finals for the second straight year.

“There were things that I would have liked to have done better, have more success in some tournaments, but that’s it,” he said Monday. “But in general, I still look on the bright side of things.

“In a year like this, to have been able to do what I did, it’s positive.”

With the COVID-19 pandemic creating a jumbled and limited calendar, Auger-Aliassime remained quite active as he gained valuable reps in his fourth season as a pro.

His shotmaking ability, power, speed and finesse are all evident when he takes to the court. Youth is obviously on his side too.

But cracking that upper echelon on tour can be one of the toughest hurdles for a young player to clear.

While Auger-Aliassime did earn his first career tour doubles title with Hubert Hurkacz, he didn’t win a set in three singles final appearances and was 1-6 overall against top-20 opponents.

“In a year like this, to reach three finals, to win a doubles title, a big title in Paris, and then reaching the second week of a

Grand Slam for the first time at the U.S. Open, it’s a positive thing,” he said.