‘A consultant both for Felix as a player and me as a coach’ – coach Fontang reveals Nadal’s working relationship with Auger-Aliassime

Frederic Fontang has lifted the lid on how Toni Nadal came to join the coaching team of Felix Auger-Aliassime.

In the latest episode of Major Talk, the coach revealed that he and his player both made a list of additional experts they would like to add to the entourage – and the Spaniard came out on top for both.

“Felix wanted to only have one full-time coach, to have someone who does the everyday work,” Fontang explained to host Alize Lim. “So I took that role…but we wanted to add one more person, a former player, or a coach who had already won one or more Grand Slam tournaments.”

“So he became a consultant both for Felix as a player, but also for me as a coach. That was the two main goals.”

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When they agreed that Nadal would be ideal, they contacted him and then following a meeting he joined the team as a consultant for Auger-Aliassime as a player – but also for Fontang as a coach.

“I’ve always thought it was important to have an outside eye because even as a coach you have to keep improving,” he explained. “Having an outside eye like Toni Nadal who has experience with Grand Slams with his nephew, it helps.”

As for what Nadal brings to Auger-Aliassime, Fontang was in no doubt, saying: “Natural charisma. He brought that confidence to Felix, the confidence to feel legitimate.”

Fontang reveals how often Toni is working with the team : “He’s doing the French Open and the US Open and then he does Monte Carlo and Madrid. A lot of clay. But I’m in contact with him regularly.”

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