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Will anyone end the Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz supremacy? \u2013 video<\/p>\n\u201cWell, imagine you\u2019re 13,\u201d F\u00e9lix Auger-Aliassime says, smiling. \u201cI had been to Europe. I had been to America. I live in Canada. And then you go to Togo; it\u2019s a little different, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n
Auger-Aliassime, the seventh best tennis player in the world, was describing the homecoming he enjoyed 12 years ago as he first caught a glimpse of Togo, the country his father, Sam, was born in and emigrated from to Canada before his son\u2019s birth. It was a significant moment in his life.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt opened my eyes,\u201d he says. \u201cI had heard stories, but it opened my eyes to the reality of what my dad faced growing up, the conditions. And you\u2019re fighting against the [odds]. If we\u2019re in a race with the rest of the world, you\u2019re starting further behind [in Togo] than, let\u2019s say, we are in Canada. So I thought to myself, if one day we can come back as a family, do something.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since that first trip as a 13-year-old, Auger-Aliassime has returned to Togo numerous times to visit his family, further connecting with his heritage and following the progress of his charity efforts. He most recently returned in December 2024. For Auger-Aliassime, the most eye-opening part of his homecoming was the kindness and contentment he saw throughout his time in Togo, even from those living under extremely challenging circumstances.<\/p>\n
F\u00e9lix Auger-Aliassime in action against Jannik Sinner at the ATP Finals in Turin in November. Photograph: Alessandro Di Marco\/EPA<\/p>\n
\u201cYou imagine how it is, but it\u2019s not quite the reality. I saw that [their difficulties] didn\u2019t change that the people had good spirits. They had smiles on their faces, and they were positive people, and everybody\u2019s kind to each other,\u201d Auger-Aliassime says. \u201cAt the same time, I saw the conditions. How many kids were in one class, up to 50 [children] in one class. The material not being the same at all. The infrastructure, obviously, is adapted to the conditions there, but nowhere near the level of what we have in Canada or countries in Europe. That was eye opening.\u201d<\/p>\n
He soon transformed those thoughts of \u201cdoing something\u201d into decisive action. Since 2020, Auger-Aliassime has partnered with the humanitarian aid organisation Care to support thousands of people in Togo. His fundraising efforts have included #FAAPointsForChange initiative, which sees him donate $5 (\u00a33.70) for each point he wins on the tour to benefit children in Togo, with his partner BNP Paribas tripling the amount. Those funds have been invested in a variety of initiatives, from providing school supplies and sports equipment to aiding the development of young adults, directly affecting over 2,700 people. \u201cIt has grown,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re transitioning now to helping the best in the classes to get scholarships, to go to universities. Often what happens is they drop out. Even if they\u2019re brilliant, they\u2019d drop out of school because they just need money and school is too expensive. So [we] get scholarships for higher studies, and \u2026 I believe it\u2019s going to pay off.\u201d<\/p>\n
Auger-Aliassime\u2019s most recent journey to Togo preceded one of the most significant runs of his career. Towards the end of 2024, Auger-Aliassime was struggling. He had fallen to No 29 in the ATP rankings, his results were inconsistent and confidence was low: \u201cIt was not like I was losing all the time. But for sure there were months where I was thinking: \u2018OK, what\u2019s my approach tactically with my game?\u2019 Once I got the physical things kind of sorted out, it was like: \u2018OK, now I\u2019m healthy again. How am I playing?\u2019 [\u2026] The challenge is to make that as consistent as possible,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Will anyone end the Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz supremacy? \u2013 video<\/p>\n
On and off the court, Auger-Aliassime is known for his professionalism, humility and diligence. His quiet hard work began to pay off in the second half of 2025. He caught fire in the US hard-court swing, reaching his second career grand slam semi-final at the US Open. He ended his season by winning his eighth career title in Brussels and reaching the semi-finals of the ATP Finals, a searing run that earned him a spot inside the world\u2019s top five.<\/p>\n