They are young, but they will be feared. Quebecers Félix Auger-Aliassime and Leylah Fernandez arrive in Indian Wells, the most prestigious tennis tournaments after the four Grand Slams, on the strength of their titles obtained in recent weeks.
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So the days when they presented themselves in the biggest events with the main objective of putting a little experience in their luggage are over.
This is especially true in the case of Félix, ninth in the world at 21, who has a record of 15 wins against four losses this season. He said it after this title won in Rotterdam in February, which put an end to a sequence of eight defeats in the final: “I myself become a player who can dominate tennis”.
Maybe with “Djoko”
In California, in this tournament which awards a purse of more than $1.5 million to the champion, he will be the ninth seed. As the top seeds benefit from a pass in the first round, the player who grew up in L’Ancienne-Lorette will make his debut on Saturday or Sunday.
In his first match, Auger-Aliassime could face the winner of the clash between Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, 49e global, and one qualified.
Félix finds himself in the bottom portion of the table, that of the second favorite, the Serbian Novak Djokovic, whose presence in the Californian desert remains uncertain.
The first seed he is likely to come across is 24e favorite, the Croatian Marin Cilic, whom he beat for the first time in his career in the Netherlands.
Other notable names Quebecers could face if they advance in the tournament are Italian Matteo Berrettini (6).e), the German Alexander Zverev (3e), de Djokovic (2e) and, in the final, his pet peeve, Daniil Medvedev (1is), who will play under a neutral banner.
A good test
Champion for the second time in her career in Monterrey, Mexico on Sunday, Fernandez is ranked 18e favorite, she who is currently at 21e world rank.
The 19-year-old racket also benefits from a bye in the initial round. She will face the winner of the match which will pit the promising American Amanda Anisimova against her compatriot Emma Navarro, ranked 200e and which benefits from an invitation from the organizers.
Logically, it will therefore be measured against Anisimova. If the Lavalloise comes out of this good test, dangerous players risk strewing her way: first, the Latvian Jelena Ostapenko (10e), then the Spaniard and reigning champion Paula Badosa (5e).
Then, if she sneaks into the quarterfinals, the last U.S. Open runner-up could cross paths with fourth-seeded powerhouse Estonian Anett Kontaveit before possibly reuniting with another power puncher, Aryna Sabalenka, whom she beaten in the semi-finals in New York.
Like Medevedev, the Belarusian comes to Indian Wells under a neutral banner.
Size packages
Leylah did not inherit the easier part of the table: at the very top, the favorite, the Czech Barbora Krejcikova, withdrew, she who had been placed there in the absence of the world number 1, the Australian Ashleigh Barty.
It will therefore be a good test for the little Quebecer, but she has proven in recent months that few challenges scare her.
Besides Auger-Aliassime and Fernandez, another Canadian is in contention in Indian Wells: Denis Shapovalov, 13e seed, which is at the top of the table.
Vasek Pospisil, 129e world championship, will try to qualify on Wednesday.
