Auger-Aliassime’s secret weapon is not a shot, but his fiancée Nina

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Auger-Aliassime’s secret weapon is not a shot, but his fiancée Nina

Canadian faces Marozsan in his opening match on home soil in Toronto

Getty Images Nina Ghaibi and Felix Auger-Aliassime have been engaged since last November. By Sam Jacot

In the fast-paced world of life on the ATP Tour, where travel, competition and pressure can shape a player's life, having a reliable support system can make all the difference. For Felix Auger-Aliassime, that pillar of strength has come his fiancée Nina Ghaibi, who will be cheering the Canadian on at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers.

Meeting Nina when he was just 18, the now-24-year-old Canadian quickly found not only love but a best friend who understands the unique challenges of a professional athlete’s lifestyle.

"Everyone’s different. There are great players out there who are single, or looking, or not looking. It's very personal. Relationships are so different from one person to the next. But for me personally, having Nina and having her by my side through this whole journey as a professional tennis player has meant a lot, "Felix told ATPTour.com last month. "I met her when I was 18 and she's always been amazing when it comes to understanding what I have to go through.

"She supports me, listens and even gives me great advice, whether it's about tennis or not. We really try to support each other in everything and at the same time, we’re best friends. It’s the best thing to have her in my life."

That support proves especially vital during the highs and lows. Auger-Aliassimne has enjoyed title successes in Adelaide and Montpellier this year, while he reached the final at the ATP 500 in Dubai. Lows have included second-round defeats at the Australian Open and Wimbledon and a first-round exit at Roland Garros.

"Tennis results can be really up and down,” said Auger-Aliassime, who is 26-16 on the season according to the Infosys Win/Loss Index. “But having someone like her, or even my team, people who are consistently there for me, is huge. It’s great knowing that even when tennis is up and down, the people who matter most don’t come and go with the results. They stay and that stability makes all the difference."

As a professional equestrian with her own demanding career, Nina has a hectic schedule. She has competed in professional equestrian events since 2017 and spends time travelling the world to compete, like her partner. Despite the challenges, the pair has successfully navigated the long distances so far, ensuring they prioritise each other when possible.

"She’s got her own career, so she’s busy too. But we try to see each other around every four weeks,” Auger-Aliassime said. "Whenever I’m close by and have a couple of days off, I’ll go see her if I have a break or I'm playing a tournament nearby, in Germany, Belgium, or Holland. I try to go see her."

This fortnight, the No. 28 player in the PIF ATP Rankings will lead Canadian hopes on home soil at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Toronto. Auger-Aliassime has never been beyond the second round in Toronto but did advance to the quarter-finals in Montreal in 2022. He will face Fabian Marozsan on Wednesday at the ATP Masters 1000 hard-court event.

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