Felix Auger-Aliassime accused his opponent of using illicit cooling aids and criticized United Cup administrators for “reckless negligence,” saying the intense heat was purposefully biased to benefit local players due to…
Felix Auger-Aliassime didn’t take long to get up to speed in 2026…
The Canadian star was excellent in his first singles match at the 2026 United Cup, defeating Zhang Zhizhen in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.
Then, partnering with Victoria Mboko, Auger-Aliassime picked up his second win of the year in the mixed doubles, as Canada beat China 3-0.
The conditions were tricky in Sydney, although you wouldn’t have noticed it by watching Auger-Aliassime.
During his post-match press conference, the 25-year-old was asked if the heat and humidity affected him.
Felix Auger-Aliassime admits the conditions in Sydney would have affected him in a five-set match
“Yeah, I mean, it didn’t get to the extent of affecting me. I think if I played five sets, yes,” he said.
“I think it’s good that I’m here because I haven’t played in this humidity in a while. Finished the season indoors. Probably the last time was the semifinals in the US Open, where it was like that humid, I had some cramps. It was similar humidity, storm outside, this roof, packed.
“Honestly, it was tough. I felt it a little bit in my legs in the second. Obviously, being ahead in the match and being able to close it out with my serve, I didn’t have to dig that deep.
“Yes, humidity was strong.”
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Felix Auger-Aliassime will play Zizou Bergs and Belgium
Next up for Team Canada is a tricky test against Belgium.
Zizou Bergs is the Belgian ATP singles star, while Elise Mertens is their top WTA player.
Auger-Aliassime and Bergs have never played each other on the ATP Tour.
If Auger-Aliassime and Canada can seal the win over Belgium, they will qualify for the quarterfinals of the United Cup.
That would be a first for the Canadians, who fell at the round robin stage in 2024 and 2025.
Only time will tell if they can get the job done, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action when Canada play Belgium on Tuesday, January 6.
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What Roger Federer said about playing exhibition matches during his tennis career
Follow us on Google DiscoverExhibition tennis was everywhere at the end of the 2025 season, with Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka among those taking part in such events.
Alcaraz played several exhibitions in 2025, despite the ATP number one having often criticized the tennis calendar.
Meanwhile, WTA number one Aryna Sabalenka played against Nick Kyrgios in an exclusive Battle of the Sexes match last month, which itself came under plenty of criticism.
Tennis legend Roger Federer once gave his thoughts on such events, having been tasked by the media with discussing exhibitions ahead of the 2008 Australian Open.
Roger Federer said it was important to play in ‘places which don’t see much tennis’
It was put to Federer: “You’re going to be playing Pete [Sampras] again in March in Madison Square Garden. First of all, how regularly do you think these exhibitions are going to go on? Secondly, is it strange to have become friendly with a guy whose record you’re chasing?”
He replied: “No, not really. For me it was a great excitement to spend a week with Pete throughout the Asian swing.
“You know, we went to places which don’t see much tennis. And I think that’s something always that’s important to me.
“In the off-season, if I play at exhibitions, I play at areas where there are hardly any other tournaments. For me it was a dream come true to get a chance to play at the Garden.
“It’s somewhere I never played at. It’s been a long time since men played there as well. And Pete really wanted to have an exhibition in the States, as well.
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“So I said, ‘Sure, where should we do it?’ Sort of Madison Square Garden came about. Honestly, it was just nice to hang out with him, see what type of a person he is.
“We’ve become friends. It was very nice that we have obviously the record going on. I don’t think it matters too much to us.
“It’s just more about having respect and liking each other during that trip. It’s the last exhibition we got planned, and after that we’ll see where it takes us.”
Federer was behind Sampras’s record of 14 Grand Slam titles at the time, but did, of course, manage to surpass the American with his 20 titles.
The dilemma players have with exhibition events
Exhibition events are a common theme of the tennis calendar, and clearly have been for some time given the appearances of the likes of Sampras and Agassi.
They met in a highly-anticipated match in New York back in 2008, with the Swiss star beating the American icon 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-6(6).
Almost 20,000 fans packed into Madison Square Garden in New York to watch the match between two of the game’s biggest superstars at the time.
There is clearly an audience for exhibitions, while players often need to take to the court to fulfil commitments such as brand growth and fan engagement, with plenty of money also usually on offer.
WTA and ATP stars can also use the matches to stay sharp and even prepare for the new season, just in a less intense manner, while it is also admirable that they travel to venues that do not see a lot of tennis.
But it certainly isn’t a good look for those complaining about busy schedules, with the packed calendar set to cause plenty of controversy in 2026 once more.
Federer incidentally will play another exhibition match very shortly, appearing at the 2026 Australian Open with Andre Agassi, Patrick Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt.
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