Key Takeaways
- World No. 5 Felix Auger-Aliassime announced his new partnership with coach Ivan Ljubicic on Friday, stating: “Excited to start a new chapter with Ivan. Let’s get to work.”
- Ljubicic, who previously guided Roger Federer to 3 Grand Slam titles and coached Milos Raonic, will balance the role alongside his duties as a special advisor to the French Tennis Federation.
- The Canadian holds a 36-16 record this season but faces pressure to defend significant points at Paris, Brussels, and the ATP Finals, where he sits 15th in the race.
New partnership formed ahead of the Shanghai Masters
World No. 5 Felix Auger-Aliassime has turned to renowned coach Ivan Ljubicic in an effort to revitalize his form during the closing stretch of the season. The 26-year-old Canadian announced the collaboration as he looks to rebound from consecutive early exits at the US Open and the China Open, both coming against Karen Khachanov.
Sharing his optimism regarding the appointment, Auger-Aliassime confirmed the news on social media on Friday, stating: “Excited to start a new chapter with Ivan. Let’s get to work.”
Ljubicic brings Grand Slam-winning pedigree to Canadian camp
Ljubicic, a former world No. 3 as a player, boasts an impressive coaching pedigree. Most famously, he guided Roger Federer through a late-career resurgence that yielded 3 Grand Slam singles crowns out of the Swiss icon’s total of 20. Ljubicic has also previously guided compatriot Milos Raonic on the ATP Tour.
The move comes after Auger-Aliassime split shortly after Wimbledon from Frederic Fontang, who served as his mentor for a decade. The Croatian tactician will step in to fill that void while maintaining his current responsibilities with the French Tennis Federation (FFT), where he remains a special advisor.
Backing the arrangement, the FFT addressed the announcement publicly, writing: “all the best for this new adventure – and looking forward to continuing ours.”
Heavy point defense looms in season run-in
Auger-Aliassime has managed a 36-16 record so far this year, highlighted by a title run in Montpellier. However, results have tapered off since his quarter-final appearance at Wimbledon, with the Canadian securing just 3 victories across his last 6 Tour-level encounters.
His Masters 1000 campaign in 2026 has been similarly turbulent. Across 6 appearances at that tier, his sole quarter-final came in Monte Carlo, having sat out the Canadian Open due to a back injury. Auger-Aliassime now heads to the Shanghai Masters under immense pressure to defend substantial ranking points, including a runner-up finish from the Paris Masters, a title defense at an ATP 250 tournament in Brussels, and semi-final points from the ATP Finals, where he currently sits 15th in the race.
Felix Auger-Aliassime in 2026
Currently ranked no.5, the Canadian played his last match on the 30th of September when he was defeated by world no.26 Karen Khachanov 6-3 6-3 in the 1st round in Beijing (draw).
This season Felix has managed to achieve a composed 35-17 win-loss record. The Canadian has won 1 title in Montpellier.
