There is nothing quite like the intense energy that animates the bounds of the tennis court. With the sun beating down on you, sweat dripping from your brow, fans cheering, and your heart palpitating, it's the ultimate high-stress, high-stakes environment. And somehow, 21-year-old Auger-Aliassime found himself right in the centre of it all.

Amidst flamboyant, almost theatrical matches––complete with unrestrained grunts and explosive stamina––Auger-Aliassime stands out. Not just because of his 6’4” frame contorting in unreal stances to return a shot, but because of the truly impressive grit he possesses. Outpacing candidates with his speed and forcing his opponents to falter by trailing them in circles, Auger-Aliassime has worked his way up from an aspiring athlete in his hometown of Montreal to prestigious games across the globe. He’s worked all the way up, in fact, to one of the biggest tournaments in the world this year––The Australian Open, one of five major international Grand Slam events. As one of the few Black tennis players in Canada and the only Black player who represented Canada at the tournament, Auger-Aliassime is making history.

For our Black History Month Changemaker Series, we’re highlighting Auger-Aliassime with 21 facts you need to know about the 21-year-old.

1. Auger-Aliassime was born in Montreal, Quebec and raised in the suburb of L'Ancienne-Lorette in Quebec City.
2. His father, Sam Aliassime, is a tennis instructor originally from Togo, and his mother, Marie Auger, is a schoolteacher from Quebec.
3. Félix has an older sister named Malika, who also plays tennis professionally.
4. Auger-Aliassime credits his diligence and work ethic to his father, who helped him hone his craft since he was a toddler.
5. He started playing tennis at only four years old, training at L’Académie de Tennis Hérisset-Bordeleau in Quebec City.
6. After 13 years of playing national and international tennis matches, the Montrealer turned pro in 2017.
7. His favourite athlete of all time is Usain Bolt.
8. In tennis, his idol is Swiss player Roger Federer, who Auger-Aliassime beat in The Halle Open Tennis Tournament in 2021.
9. At the tender age of 14, Auger-Aliassime became the youngest player ever to win a main draw match on the ATP’s (Association of Tennis Professionals) Challenger Tour.{https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JeLywAJw_Y}
10. The athlete is multi-talented––he also plays the piano.
11. If he wasn’t a tennis player, Auger-Aliassime says he would have pursued music or dance.
12. At Wimbledon in 2016, Félix reached all the way to the quarterfinal in singles and the final in doubles at only 15-years-old.
13. Auger-Aliassime was named Canada's male player of the year in 2021, along with Canada’s Singles Player of the Year and the country’s Most Improved Player.
14. The athlete is climbing the charts fast: he started the tennis season in 2021, ranked at 21st in the world and finished in 11th place.
15. The Montrealer achieved the biggest win of his career against German player Alexander Zverev at Wimbledon last year.
16. In 2021, he had an outstanding 38 victories, including four defeats against several Top 10 players.
17. After playing on the winning team at the 2022 ATP Cup, Auger-Aliassime reached a remarkable position of number nine in the world.
18. The athlete’s favourite tournament is the Rogers Cup in his home country.
19. Auger-Aliassime has made it to each quarterfinal in his last three Grand Slams.
20. He is known for having a very powerful backhand shot. His favourite shot, however, is the forehand.
21. In 2022, Félix hopes to continue his winning streak. His main goal for the year was to get into the top 10 rankings, which he recently achieved on January 10th, 2022.

In a sport that can be marginalizing for young Black athletes, Auger-Aliassime is championing the face of a new generation in the tennis world. Amongst the biggest and brightest international veterans, Félix has consistently brought dynamic energy and passion to the game. That same passion has taken him past the ranks of some of his very heroes.

After a phenomenal performance at The Australian Open and other notable tournaments, Auger-Aliassime is sending a message about Black Canadian players’ intent not just to hold space in tennis, but to dominate. His status has skyrocketed from a young and hungry sports enthusiast to a world-class athlete, who many have dubbed a prodigy. But the Canadian is more than just gifted—he's driven. The 21-year-old has shown tenacity far beyond his years. And as he sharpens his strategy, only time will tell what awaits Auger-Aliassime’s destiny.

This story is part of our 10-part series, "Black History Month Changemakers."