Felix Auger-Aliassime doesn't know how to generate power from the baseline

[merwy]

I've seen FAA play many times and from the get-go I kind of had this feeling, but it's becoming more apparent as time goes on. He reminds me of Roddick in his later stage, actually. It seems like he's trying very hard to muscle through the ball, but he's not using that power efficiently so it doesn't translate into a fast or powerful shot. This is ironic as he's being coached by Toni Nadal, and Rafa sure knows how to generate a ton of power into his shots.

Just look at the highlights from his match against Altmaier:

It's like he's really trying to use his power and I'm sure he's strong. It's not a matter of physical strength. He's just not using that power efficiently. You've got people who aren't that muscular at all (Kyrgios, Eubanks, Rosol come to mind) that can easily hit huge shots. That is what he needs to work on. It's not even so much tactics, it's just this. His average baseline shot is too weak. When he hits an approach shot to go to the net, it's too weak. And it's the same when he tries to hit a winner, it's just weaker than other players' finishing shots, so they often still get to it.

 

[Hitman]

FAA looks like someone to whom tennis doesn't come naturally. He is a product of a lot of hard work, and dedication to make him a world class player. His game seems to be very mechanical at times, instead of free flowing. It's a shame, because he clearly puts in the effort.

 

[Krish0608]

FAA looks like someone to whom tennis doesn't come naturally. He is a product of a lot of hard work, and dedication to make him a world class player. His game seems to be very mechanical at times, instead of free flowing. It's a shame, because he clearly puts in the effort.

To think that he was considered a child prodigy and a future ATG when he was young

 

[tex123]

I've seen FAA play many times and from the get-go I kind of had this feeling, but it's becoming more apparent as time goes on. He reminds me of Roddick in his later stage, actually. It seems like he's trying very hard to muscle through the ball, but he's not using that power efficiently so it doesn't translate into a fast or powerful shot. This is ironic as he's being coached by Toni Nadal, and Rafa sure knows how to generate a ton of power into his shots.

Just look at the highlights from his match against Altmaier:

It's like he's really trying to use his power and I'm sure he's strong. It's not a matter of physical strength. He's just not using that power efficiently. You've got people who aren't that muscular at all (Kyrgios, Eubanks, Rosol come to mind) that can easily hit huge shots. That is what he needs to work on. It's not even so much tactics, it's just this. His average baseline shot is too weak. When he hits an approach shot to go to the net, it's too weak. And it's the same when he tries to hit a winner, it's just weaker than other players' finishing shots, so they often still get to it.

His biggest mistake was to hire Toni.

He worked on his serve to make it big. Clearly, his natural progression should've been to develop his play as a one two punch type of play. Serve big, get a weak return, big forehand and come in to finish the point. He's not going to beat players from the back of the court playing endless topspin shots. He's not that type of a player.

 

[ppma]

His biggest mistake was to hire Toni.

He worked on his serve to make it big. Clearly, his natural progression should've been to develop his play as a one two punch type of play. Serve big, get a weak return, big forehand and come in to finish the point. He's not going to beat players from the back of the court playing endless topspin shots. He's not that type of a player.

Agree. The problem is that that style of game is not always working, even when indoors. He's not ever going to be a successful grinder, so there is not much hope.

 

[Rovesciarete]

Altmaier hits big forehands and has with plenty of spin on his backhand. FAA needs more time to set up his shots which he can‘t do well under pressure. In this match his tendency to rund around can be exploited down the line on an excellent day for the one-handed backhand.

Felix games relies more than most imagined on his big serve. He needs to get it back and follow up aggressively.

 

[NewcomerfromBalkan]

FAA looks like someone to whom tennis doesn't come naturally. He is a product of a lot of hard work, and dedication to make him a world class player. His game seems to be very mechanical at times, instead of free flowing. It's a shame, because he clearly puts in the effort.

Totaly agree,he is powerful of the nature in terms of genetics and physicall strenght,but he do not have intuition how to make properly aggresive "bite" on some shot in the rally when you put more to prevail,punch opponent far behing the baseline and then finish point if you need to.He is just a good student of the game.
For example matteo arnaldi,young italian,skinny guy that bombs sometimes harder the FAA because of body position.I do not say that he is better than FAA,But he exploits game higher than possibilities.DeMinaur too.

 

[esben80]

He is a professional and puts in the work - unfortunately his game doesn’t have any spike that would allow him to compete at the very sharp end of grand slams. Not everyone can be a grand slam champion and no shame in that.

 

[nolefam_2024]

I hate his grunts. His fh is hit or miss like shapovalov but it's his backhand that is so ugly.

He doesn't have a defense. Just like shapovalov, he lacks rally control. Not great prospect at all.

Not everyone will become grand slam champion in late 20s like Wawrinka.

 

[DSH]

Is he Finnish at the age of 23?

 

[ghostofMecir]

I've seen FAA play many times and from the get-go I kind of had this feeling, but it's becoming more apparent as time goes on. He reminds me of Roddick in his later stage, actually. It seems like he's trying very hard to muscle through the ball, but he's not using that power efficiently so it doesn't translate into a fast or powerful shot. This is ironic as he's being coached by Toni Nadal, and Rafa sure knows how to generate a ton of power into his shots.

Just look at the highlights from his match against Altmaier:

It's like he's really trying to use his power and I'm sure he's strong. It's not a matter of physical strength. He's just not using that power efficiently. You've got people who aren't that muscular at all (Kyrgios, Eubanks, Rosol come to mind) that can easily hit huge shots. That is what he needs to work on. It's not even so much tactics, it's just this. His average baseline shot is too weak. When he hits an approach shot to go to the net, it's too weak. And it's the same when he tries to hit a winner, it's just weaker than other players' finishing shots, so they often still get to it.

FAA looks like someone to whom tennis doesn't come naturally. He is a product of a lot of hard work, and dedication to make him a world class player. His game seems to be very mechanical at times, instead of free flowing. It's a shame, because he clearly puts in the effort.

He doesn’t possess elite (relatively speaking) racket skills, which is always a reason why I never thought he’d be a dominant player or consistent slam contender. When you add on to this that his defense isn’t grest AND he’s mentally fragile…Well, you get FAA.

I hate his grunts. His fh is hit or miss like shapovalov but it's his backhand that is so ugly.

He doesn't have a defense. Just like shapovalov, he lacks rally control. Not great prospect at all.

Not everyone will become grand slam champion in late 20s like Wawrinka.

Pretty much, though he could level up with serve consistency, but he doesn’t even do that. A warning sign has always been how poorly he did in finals—most players who wind up being #1 or multiple slam champions don’t start off their careers with poor finals’ records.

He’s young enough that he could eventually do something, though it’s doubtful.

 

[Hitman]

He doesn’t possess elite (relatively speaking) racket skills, which is always a reason why I never thought he’d be a dominant player or consistent slam contender. When you add on to this that his defense isn’t grest AND he’s mentally fragile…Well, you get FAA.

I would agree about the racket skills. It doesn't flow how it is meant to.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

FAA looks like someone to whom tennis doesn't come naturally. He is a product of a lot of hard work, and dedication to make him a world class player. His game seems to be very mechanical at times, instead of free flowing. It's a shame, because he clearly puts in the effort.

Well, even Agassi was forced into it, but look what he turned out to be. FAA lacks those balls tbh.

 

[Hitman]

Well, even Agassi was forced into it, but look what he turned out to be. FAA lacks those balls tbh.

Agassi had the natural hand-eye coordination and ball striking ability that you simply cannot teach. You either have it or you don't.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Agassi had the natural hand-eye coordination and ball striking ability that you simply cannot teach. You either have it or you don't.

The most stunning ballstriker in the history of tennis.
But dude, his mental toughness and resolve to win were really great too. Even Nalbandian had great hand eye coordination but wasn't as good in those departments.

 

[Hitman]

The most stunning ballstriker in the history of tennis.
But dude, his mental toughness and resolve to win were really great too. Even Nalbandian had great hand eye coordination but wasn't as good in those departments.

Yes, that is true, but Agassi had strong rivals like Sampras around him to keep him on track and even then he had walkabouts for many years. FAA doesn't quite have that. Agassi thrived on his rivalries with Sampas, Becker, Chang etc.

 

[Kralingen]

He can't hit a topspin backhand in court for more than a few shots.

 

[Jonesy]

How can you have no control and no strength of shot at the same time?

Toni is a snake-oil salesman that got lucky to have a one in a million talented nephew to make him look good, at this point FAA should have already found out the truth. Perhaps he is afraid of dumping Toni and becoming an enemy of the Nadals.

Shapo has no control but at least his shots have pop, you can have control or power and look to fix what you don't have, you can't have neither and expect to reach the top, if Felix has neither then he is no different than Thiem right now, guy looks like Charles Barkley after having touched the stealing talents ball in space jam.

 

[tennisintheeighties]

FAA needs to flattern his shot, in order to kill short and easy ball.
He uses too much topspin on his FH but the ball doesn't go really fast.
Less net clearance and more powerful flats shots, that's what I would have work if If I was his coach

 

[merwy]

FAA needs to flattern his shot, in order to kill short and easy ball.
He uses too much topspin on his FH but the ball doesn't go really fast.
Less net clearance and more powerful flats shots, that's what I would have work if If I was his coach

The power in his shots is still pathetic, even when considering he uses that much topspin. Players like Nadal, Shelton, Thiem and even Sock can produce a lot of power with topspin. Don't get why he's unable to.

 

[TennisBro]

Some harsh comments on FAA here. He sure has done little in more than a year now and his shots of baseline don't hurt his opponents. I think the speed of his swing on his forehand, backhand and service is one issue.

 

[InsuranceMan]

That just ain't so. his average for 2023 was one of the highest for speed and spin.

OP and many others are clueless, thank you for setting the facts straight and being an overall high quality poster

 

[Musterrific]

That just ain't so. his average for 2023 was one of the highest for speed and spin.

Despite this, the results speak for themselves. Clearly there is a massive problem with his game.

 

[tudwell]

That just ain't so. his average for 2023 was one of the highest for speed and spin.

It's interesting the things that influence our perception of "power". I imagine taking the ball earlier plays a role – I haven't seen much of FAA lately but I don't remember him ever being a particularly early ball-striker. If anything, the opposite, standing a bit too far back. And I'm sure it goes without saying, but a ball with slightly less pace but struck several feet further up is going to reach the opponent just as fast if not faster than one hit harder but from further back, giving the impression of more pace or power.

I think also shotmaking plays a role – I imagine FAA and plenty of other players average more pace on the forehand than, say, Federer ever did, and yet he could smack forehand winners almost at will. Because it wasn't about the pace he injected into the ball but the placement, and the early hit point stealing recovery time from his opponent. (That's what always made Delpo so fun to watch, for me. He was one player who truly seemed to marry consistent hard hitting with spectacular shot-making abilities.)

It's probably less that FAA is inefficient at producing power than it is that he's inefficient at using that power. Whaling away at forehands from too far back and in stock patterns that don't unduly trouble the opponent (I'm guessing – again, I haven't seen him in quite a while).

 

[merwy]

OP and many others are clueless, thank you for setting the facts straight and being an overall high quality poster

That just ain't so. his average for 2023 was one of the highest for speed and spin.

For starters, average topspin speed and power isn't what I'm talking about. In the video I posted above, it looks like he's trying to hit big shots but he just doesn't know how to generate the power to put those balls away. Sure, his average speed is probably fine because he's using every muscle in his body on every shot, but it just doesn't look efficient and his opponent (Altmaier) isn't having any issues with it. For example, I have no idea what Federer's avg. shot speed is but he can just calmly slice a couple of balls and then put the next shot away in the corner without breaking a sweat.
Secondly, it's his backhand that's more of an issue than his forehand.
Thirdly, this graph is about 2023. He was extremely up and down in 2023, making the QF of Indian Wells and winning Basel but pretty much failing at every other tournament. Just watched some highlights from him against Hurkacz in Basel and he was actually playing very impressive there and seemed to hit through the ball fine. But whenever he's not at his best, his most recent match is kind of what we get.

I don't want to call him untalented necessarily, because I know it takes talent to win a challenger at the young age he did. He's just stagnating and it's a huge shame.

@InsuranceMan stop kissing ass dude..

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Yes, that is true, but Agassi had strong rivals like Sampras around him to keep him on track and even then he had walkabouts for many years. FAA doesn't quite have that. Agassi thrived on his rivalries with Sampas, Becker, Chang etc.

FAA just lacks that killer Instinct man. He doesn't really have the "rivalry" with any of his fellow generational players, as he doesn't even make it to them regularly to have enough matches.
I tell you this though, watching him blow up leads again and again is a painful experience.